description
Americannoun
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a statement or account that describes; representation in words
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the act, process, or technique of describing
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sort, kind, or variety
reptiles of every description
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geometry the act of drawing a line or figure, such as an arc
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philosophy a noun phrase containing a predicate that may replace a name as the subject of a sentence
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of description
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English descripcioun, from Latin dēscrīptiōn-, stem of dēscrīptiō, from dēscrīpt(us) “described” (past participle of dēscrībere “to copy, draw, transcribe”; see describe) + -iō -ion
Explanation
A description puts something in words, like a portrait puts a person in paint. The lawnmower you came home with did not quite fit the description of the dishwasher you went shopping for. The root for description is the Latin word descriptio, meaning “to write down.” The “script” in description tells you that a good description makes what it describes come to life, like a script for a movie. Your description of that fudge almond swirl ice cream was so good I could taste it! Unfortunately, I'm allergic to nuts.
Vocabulary lists containing description
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 4
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“Inspired by Balinese architecture and thoughtfully reimagined through a distinctly Californian lens, the residence celebrates natural materials, soaring timber ceilings, expansive walls of glass, and raw, textured stone,” the listing description notes.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
Professor Gaztañaga added: "Singularities often signal that our theoretical description has reached its limits. A bounce provides a way for the Universe to transition from contraction to expansion without requiring new exotic physics."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
Working-class identity is more durable and culturally grounded than a description of who isn’t a billionaire.
From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2026
"If I wanted to describe it, the closest description I can give is that it is like having your soul ripped away. I cannot imagine myself without my land."
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
While he undoubtedly thought this description cast a wide and inclusive net that pulled in residents from all the regions or sections of the United States, it did not include all inhabitants.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Overall, compared with historic versions of such job descriptions, there are 30% more references to AI on user profiles today.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
They are descriptions one grieving mother said "will never leave me".
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
When the researchers compared participants' descriptions of waking life with their dream reports, they found that the brain did not appear to reproduce daily experiences exactly as they happened.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
Because of inconsistent chemical descriptions and names, they argued that it is impossible to know exactly which substances are being compounded.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
He scrolled through the titles and the short descriptions on each one hoping something would pop out at him.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
