illustrative
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- illustratively adverb
- nonillustrative adjective
- nonillustratively adverb
- overillustrative adjective
- overillustratively adverb
- self-illustrative adjective
- unillustrative adjective
Etymology
Origin of illustrative
First recorded in 1635–45; illustrate + -ive
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.
The two are legally separate entities — but for illustrative purposes, a combined trust fund is figured to provide the actuarial status of the Social Security program as a whole.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 12, 2026
Rima Fand’s pleasant, folk-tinged score is illustrative rather than striking; the accompanying ensemble of mandolin, string quartet and bass, led from the piano by Mila Henry, plays a lot of ostinatos.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026
The commission concluded that an analysis of the betting data was not "illustrative of a spot-fix" and added it was "in many respects inconsistent with a spot-fix, but consistent with alternative explanations".
From BBC • Sep. 3, 2025
The primary is the main character print, which is more complex and illustrative.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2025
Somewhere in the middle of these three illustrative points, Mrs. Glass had left off listening and sat down.
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
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.
