dispositive meaning and examples

Meaning

• Dispositive means decisive or having the power to determine the outcome of something, especially in a legal or formal context. It often refers to evidence, facts, or documents that resolve a case or issue.

Grammar and Usage

• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Usage: Commonly used in legal or academic writing to describe something that settles a matter.

Patterns:

• dispositive evidence — evidence that determines the result of a case.
• dispositive motion — a legal motion that resolves a case without a trial.
• dispositive issue — an issue that decides the outcome.

Common Phrases

• dispositive evidence – evidence that directly determines the case result.
• dispositive motion – a motion that can end the case (e.g., motion to dismiss, summary judgment).
• dispositive factor – a factor that decides the conclusion.
• dispositive issue – a key issue that settles the argument.

Collocations

• dispositive document
• dispositive ruling
• dispositive effect
• dispositive clause (in contracts or wills)
• dispositive finding

Examples

1. The court ruled that the evidence was dispositive, leaving no room for further debate.
2. Her testimony proved dispositive in resolving the dispute.
3. The dispositive motion for summary judgment ended the case before trial.
4. The contract contained a dispositive clause that determined property ownership.
5. The judge identified the dispositive issue as whether the agreement was legally binding.
6. The lawyer argued that the new evidence was not dispositive of the defendant’s guilt.
7. The jury’s decision was based on a single dispositive factor.
8. The email record had a dispositive effect on the investigation.
9. The dispositive ruling clarified how the law should be interpreted.
10. Only one dispositive finding was needed to conclude the case.

Synonyms or Related

• decisive
• conclusive
• determining
• final
• settling
• resolving

Antonym

• inconclusive
• uncertain
• debatable
• unresolved