distinctive

American  

[dih-stingk-tiv] / dɪˈstɪŋk tɪv /

adjective

1. serving to distinguish; characteristic; distinguishing: distinguishing.

   the distinctive stripes of the zebra.

   Synonyms:

   individual

2. having a special quality, style, attractiveness, etc.; notable.

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distinctive British  

/ dɪˈstɪŋktɪv /

adjective

1. serving or tending to distinguish

2. denoting one of a set of minimal features of a phoneme in a given language that serve to distinguish it from other phonemes. The distinctive features of /p/ in English are that it is voiceless, bilabial, non-nasal, and plosive; /b/ is voiced, bilabial, non-nasal, and plosive: the two differ by the distinctive feature of voice

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Other Word Forms

• distinctively adverb
• distinctiveness noun
• subdistinctive adjective
• subdistinctively adverb
• subdistinctiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of distinctive

First recorded in 1575–85; from Medieval Latin distinctīvus; equivalent to distinct + -ive

Example Sentences

Along with her distinctive voice, Robyn has great taste in collaborators.

From The Wall Street Journal

She's already hugely popular with audiences through hosting shows like Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors, and has a distinctive, warm and slightly chaotic style that could make the breakfast show feel fresh and different.

From BBC

He cut a distinctive figure in the music videos with his trademark square black sunglasses, a black blazer and black trousers.

From BBC

Made by Poupard, Napoleon's official hatmaker, the headpiece displays all the hallmark features of an authentic imperial bicorne, including its distinctive proportions, a small tricolour cockade, and a silk‑taffeta lining, Parich said.

From Barron's

Alice, who is known for her distinctive retro-pop sound, said she was on "cloud nine" and it was a "fabulous honour" to scoop the award.

From BBC

Related Words

• cool
• extraordinary
• idiosyncratic
• offbeat
• original
• peculiar
• singular
• special
• weird