interpretive
Americanadjective
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serving to interpret; explanatory.
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deduced by interpretation.
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made because of interpretation.
an interpretive distortion of language.
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of or relating to those arts that require an intermediary, as a performer, for realization, as in music or theater.
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offering interpretations, explanations, or guidance, as through lectures, brochures, or films.
the museum's interpretive center.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of interpretive
Explanation
Use the adjective interpretive to describe things that explain or define, like an interpretive dance that uses movements and gestures to convey the meaning of a piece of music. Interpretive comes from the Latin word interpretari, which means "explain, expound, understand." Inter- means "between" or "among," so you know there will be two or more parts to things that are interpretive. It's a subjective response that involves the thing that's being interpreted and the person doing the interpreting. A reader might have an interpretive response to a book, a guide will give an interpretative description of a painting for a tour group, and so on.
Vocabulary lists containing interpretive
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.
Another project would involve replacing 17 wayside exhibits at backcountry trailheads and three in the Cottonwood Spring area and adding three new interpretive wayside exhibits on the Mastodon Peak Loop.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
Douglass relied instead on an interpretive rule: Where constitutional language permits more than one plausible meaning, choose the one favoring liberty.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
The adaptation delves more into their marital melancholy, but I felt I understood them better in Shakespeare’s original, which recognizes the power of suggestion and interpretive restraint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
“I would describe him as an interpretive opportunist,” said Phil Brest, the president of the left-leaning American Constitution Society.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
And bouncing on her flat heels, full of coffee and nerve and code, was Eva Seiler, Berlin’s interpretive liaison with London, soon to insinuate herself into the German-speaking underworld of Ormaie.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
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