illustrative

[ih-luhs-truh-tiv, il-uh-strey-tiv]

adjective

1. serving to illustrate; explanatory.

   illustrative examples.

Other Word Forms

• illustratively adverb
• nonillustrative adjective
• nonillustratively adverb
• overillustrative adjective
• overillustratively adverb
• self-illustrative adjective
• unillustrative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of illustrative¹

First recorded in 1635–45; illustrate + -ive

Example Sentences

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

A recent party attended by almost all of the squad was illustrative of their bond.

From BBC

Culture often holds a mirror up to politics and what has been playing out at Glastonbury is illustrative of the wider, heated debate raging across the country about what's taking place in Gaza.

From BBC

The primary is the main character print, which is more complex and illustrative.

From Los Angeles Times

On its social media posts showing people being escorted onto planes, it says these are illustrative and the public will understand that ways of offenders leaving the country will vary considerably.

From BBC

Related Words

• descriptive 
• emblematic 
• figurative 
• revealing