commutative.

Giving the same result when the order of two inputs to an operation is reversed.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• commutative operation
• commutative law
• commutative group

On the page

Addition is commutative, but exchanging the inputs to subtraction can change the result.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal / analytical. Lexical Type: Word. Forms: Normally non-gradable; no ordinary comparative or superlative. Commonness: moderately common (editorial estimate; not a corpus frequency statistic). Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1; numbered fields keep each relevant meaning separate. Research distinction: MW defines input-order independence for an operation over a set; explicitly contrast associativity/grouping, not imply one law entails the other. Writing functions: analysis, conceptual distinction.