descriptive

[dih-skrip-tiv]

adjective

1. having the quality of describing; characterized by description.

   a descriptive passage in an essay.

2. Grammar.

   1. (of an adjective or other modifier) expressing a quality of the word it modifies, as fresh in fresh milk.

   2. (of a clause) nonrestrictive.

3. noting, concerned with, or based upon the fact or experience.

4. characterized by or based upon the classification and description of material in a given field.

   descriptive botany.

descriptive

/ dɪˈskrɪptɪv /

adjective

1. characterized by or containing description; serving to describe

2. grammar (of an adjective) serving to describe the referent of the noun modified, as for example the adjective brown as contrasted with my and former

3. relating to or based upon description or classification rather than explanation or prescription

   descriptive linguistics

Other Word Forms

• descriptively adverb
• descriptiveness noun
• nondescriptive adjective
• nondescriptively adverb
• nondescriptiveness noun
• overdescriptive adjective
• overdescriptively adverb
• overdescriptiveness noun
• self-descriptive adjective
• undescriptive adjective
• undescriptively adverb
• undescriptiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of descriptive¹

1745–55; < Late Latin dēscrīptīvus, equivalent to Latin dēscrīpt ( us ) ( description ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

She paused to think of a name that was both descriptive and had an easy-to-pronounce acronym, always a great boon to any endeavor.

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"In short, investigating fanaticism is not merely descriptive -- it is developmentally informed prevention that protects public health and strengthens democratic cohesion. When we discuss fanaticism, the facts speak for themselves."

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It’s a little cute, but it’s very descriptive, but it’s also a wonderful place to be.

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It was purely descriptive: a recognition that social and cultural factors shape human behavior.

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Previously, researchers could only search for descriptive metadata and then had to download the full datasets to access raw sequences.

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Related Words

• definitive 
• detailed 
• eloquent 
• expressive 
• identifying www.thesaurus.com
• illuminating 
• pictorial 
• revealing 
• vivid