Origin: Latin suffix -ive
Digestive has 4 different meanings across 2 categories:
any substance that promotes digestion
"The doctor recommended taking a digestive enzyme to help break down the heavy meal."
A substance that aids digestion.
"She added a few drops of digestive to her yogurt to help break down the food."
"The digestive was empty after she finished her light meal."
relating to or having the power to cause or promote digestion
"digestive juices"
"a digestive enzyme"
"digestive ferment"
Of, relating to, or functioning in digestion.
"After his surgery, the patient's digestive system began working properly again."
In plain English: Digestive describes anything related to how your body breaks down food so you can get energy from it.
"The doctor advised that she should avoid spicy foods because they can upset her digestive system."
Usage: Use digestive as an adjective when describing anything related to the process of breaking down food, such as a digestive system or enzymes. Avoid confusing it with "digestive aid," which is not standard terminology; instead, refer specifically to substances like fiber or probiotics if you mean something that helps digestion.
The word digestive comes from the Old French term digestif, which was borrowed from Late Latin dīgestīvus. It entered English as a doublet related to the verb "to digest," sharing its origin in the concept of breaking down food.