illustrative
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of illustrative
First recorded in 1635–45; illustrate + -ive
Explanation
A fight with your brother over who ate the most food may be illustrative of your competitive relationship with him. Something illustrative means it is a telling example of something else. Within this word, you see illustrate which means to make something clear by using pictures or examples. Something is illustrative when it paints a perfect picture of a subject. If you're trying to describe something, an illustrative example might make it easier for your audience to understand what you mean. The tidiness of your sock drawer might be illustrative of your compulsive (or messy) nature.
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.
A set of questions on Medicare Advantage from Republican Rep. David Schweikert, of Arizona, was illustrative of bipartisan interest in curbing spending on the federal health benefits program operated by private insurers.
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026
"The image was obviously for illustrative purposes," he said.
From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026
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
One illustrative fact: Russia has “a grand total of zero companies in the top 100 list of technology companies as measured by market capitalization.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026
It is far-fetched in some ways, but also highly illustrative.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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.
