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

Apart from some surveillance, tailing suspects, one fatal encounter and an occasional chase, there’s little in the way of capital-A Action, mostly just a lot of talk — inquisitive, instructive, threatening, discursive, domestic or speechifying.

From Los Angeles Times

But it was instructive that each Arsenal player raced back to their own half so the game could get back under way.

From BBC

It is instructive to note that Howe was fielding similar questions nearly a year ago.

From BBC

But it felt instructive that the midfielder referenced the pull of working with Howe after completing his move to St James' Park.

From BBC

Indeed, this is where congressional elections and state legislative battles since 2012 ought to be instructive when we think about Texas now and the prospect that any GOP-gerrymandered map might backfire.

From Salon

Related Words

• enlightening 
• helpful 
• illuminating 
• useful