instructive

[in-struhk-tiv]

adjective

1. serving to instruct or inform; conveying instruction, knowledge, or information; enlightening.

2. Grammar.,  noting a case, as in Finnish, whose distinctive function is to indicate means by which.

instructive

/ ɪnˈstrʌktɪv /

adjective

1. serving to instruct or enlighten; conveying information

Other Word Forms

• instructively adverb
• instructiveness noun
• noninstructive adjective
• noninstructively adverb
• noninstructiveness noun
• overinstructive adjective
• overinstructively adverb
• overinstructiveness noun
• uninstructive adjective
• uninstructively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of instructive¹

First recorded in 1605–15; instruct + -ive

Example Sentences

“They say that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Perhaps meeting his mother will be instructive,” she thought.

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I think I always learn something from his columns and this one was particularly instructive.

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To assess Johnson's career with Wales, it is instructive to start from the beginning.

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It’s very instructive, the response to that catch.

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But there is also hope this episode has been instructive.

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Related Words

• enlightening 
• helpful 
• illuminating 
• useful