illustrational

[il-uh-strey-shuh-nl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of illustrations.

   illustrational art.

2. used for purposes of illustration; serving to illustrate; illustrative.

Word History and Origins

Origin of illustrational¹

First recorded in 1880–85; illustration + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Despite finding them “engaging and admirably crafted,” James R. Mellow of The New York Times concluded that the sculptures were “dissatisfying” for their “illustrational stodginess.”

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Douglas’s answers came in the form of an original, illustrational idiom that looks stronger than ever today.

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A few veer toward illustrational kitsch, and the prevailing symmetry of their forms can begin to feel complacent.

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His paintings, done in a crisply realistic, highly detailed, somewhat cut-and-paste illustrational style, are far from grim.

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That format placed the images in the subordinate illustrational role that he decried.

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Related Words

• descriptive 
• illustrated 
• photographic 
• visual 
• vivid