performative

[per-fawr-muh-tiv]

adjective

1. Philosophy, Linguistics.,  (of an expression or statement) performing an act by the very fact of being uttered, as with the expression “I promise,” that performs the act of promising.

2. relating to the performance of behaviors associated with a particular social role or identity.

   He reflects on his mother's performative femininity, remembering the times he witnessed her adorning herself with eyeshadow, bracelets, and belts.

3. relating to ways of behaving that exhibit a socially acceptable belief, trait, or quality, often making a superficial impression.

   Performative wokeness enables privileged people to reap the social benefits of wokeness without actually undertaking the necessary legwork to combat inequality.

noun

1. a performative utterance.

performative

/ pəˈfɔːmətɪv /

adjective

1. 1. denoting an utterance that constitutes some act, esp the act described by the verb. For example, I confess that I was there is itself a confession, and so is performative in the narrower sense, while I'd like you to meet … (effecting an introduction) is performative only in the looser sense See also locutionary act illocution perlocution

   2. ( as noun )

      that sentence is a performative

2. 1. denoting a verb that may be used as the main verb in such an utterance

   2. ( as noun )

      ``promise'' is a performative

Other Word Forms

• performatively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of performative¹

First recorded in 1950–55; perform + -ative

Example Sentences

The show could have easily devolved into performative yelling at struggling home cooks, a carnival of culinary mishaps.

From Salon

The MacArthur Park operation, according to the Department of Homeland Security, was itself little more than a performative display of power “to demonstrate, through a show of presence, the capacity and freedom of maneuver of federal law enforcement within the Los Angeles,” according to agency documents presented in court.

From Los Angeles Times

Sean Hannity bemoaned the “performative confrontational style” that only “wins you points with the loony radical base.”

From Los Angeles Times

Whistleblowers have described the management's response as "performative".

From BBC

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called it “performative” and a “stunt.”

From Los Angeles Times