decorative

[ dek-er-uh-tiv, dek-ruh-, dek-uh-rey- ]
/ ˈdɛk ər ə tɪv, ˈdɛk rə-, ˈdɛk əˌreɪ- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR decorative ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

serving or tending to decorate.
Fine Arts. serving only to decorate, in contrast to providing a meaningful experience.

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Origin of decorative

First recorded in 1785–95; decorate + -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM decorative

Words nearby decorative

decorate, decorated, decorated shed, Decorated style, decoration, decorative, decorative art, decorator, decorous, decorticate, decortication
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to decorative

ornamental, fancy, cosmetic, florid, pretty, adorning, embellishing, enhancing, nonfunctional, prettifying

Example sentences from the Web for decorative

British Dictionary definitions for decorative

decorative
/ (ˈdɛkərətɪv, ˈdɛkrətɪv) /

adjective

serving to decorate or adorn; ornamental

Derived forms of decorative

decoratively, adverbdecorativeness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012