(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.
The current conversation is a performative demonstration thereof.
British Dictionary definitions for performative
performative
/pəˈfɔːmətɪv/
adjective (linguistics, philosophy)
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
(as noun): that sentence is a performative
2.
denoting a verb that may be used as the main verb in such an utterance
(as noun): ``promise'' is a performative
Derived Forms
performatively, adverb
Word Origin and History for performative
1955, adjective and noun, coined by British philosopher of language J.L. Austin (1911-1960), from perform + -ive.