prescriptive

[ pri-skrip-tiv ]
See synonyms for prescriptive on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. that prescribes; giving directions or injunctions: a prescriptive letter from an anxious father.

  2. depending on or arising from effective legal prescription, as a right or title established by a long unchallenged tenure.

Origin of prescriptive

1
First recorded in 1740–50; prescript + -ive, modeled on descriptive, destructive, etc.

Other words from prescriptive

  • pre·scrip·tive·ly, adverb
  • pre·scrip·tive·ness, noun
  • non·pre·scrip·tive, adjective

Words that may be confused with prescriptive

Words Nearby prescriptive

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How to use prescriptive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prescriptive

prescriptive

/ (prɪˈskrɪptɪv) /


adjective
  1. making or giving directions, rules, or injunctions

  2. sanctioned by long-standing usage or custom

  1. derived from or based upon legal prescription: a prescriptive title

Derived forms of prescriptive

  • prescriptively, adverb
  • prescriptiveness, noun

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