Synonyms

illustrative

American

[ih-luhs-truh-tiv, il-uh-strey-tiv] / ɪˈlʌs trə tɪv, ˈɪl əˌstreɪ tɪv /

adjective

serving to illustrate; explanatory.

illustrative examples.

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 previous horse-riding images had been for illustrative purposes only to show the size, scale and location rather than the final design, says the Cabinet Office.

From BBC

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

U.S. oil majors are an illustrative case: They bet that the tail of oil and gas demand would be long, even if a peak is inevitable.

From The Wall Street Journal

Gong, which helps its clients sell more stuff, is an illustrative example.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023