attractive
Americanadjective
-
providing pleasure or delight, especially in appearance or manner; pleasing; charming; alluring.
an attractive personality.
-
arousing interest or engaging one's thought, consideration, etc.: an attractive price.
an attractive idea;
an attractive price.
-
having the quality of attracting.
adjective
-
appealing to the senses or mind through beauty, form, character, etc
-
arousing interest
an attractive opportunity
-
possessing the ability to draw or pull
an attractive force
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of attractive
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English attractif, attractive, (from Middle French at(t)ractif ), from Late Latin attractīvus “(of a medicine) having drawing power, absorptive,” derivative of attractus , “drawn, contracted,” see attract, -ive
Explanation
Anybody or anything that's attractive is visually pleasing or draws you in. Being attractive has to do with attracting others, one way or another. If you're talking about a magnet, that's a literal, physical kind of attraction. For people, being attractive usually means you're beautiful or handsome enough to pull in the attention of others. But having a great personality or a good job are attractive traits, too. If someone offered to give you something valuable for a good price, you could also say, "That's an attractive offer" — meaning it's tempting.
Vocabulary lists containing attractive
Structure and Properties of Matter - Middle School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Structure and Properties of Matter - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Structure and Properties of Matter - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
It downgrades the stock to neutral from outperform “in the absence of a more attractive met-coal market backdrop.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Let’s say you have a 7% car loan; paying it down is attractive.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
“I do not find Berkshire an attractive investment going forward,” he said on a Substack post.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
They wanted a defender who could operate both at centre-back and right-back, and Araujo's versatility and physical profile made him an attractive option.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
“Speaking for myself, I’ve always found great intelligence in a woman a highly attractive feature. What did she want to consult you about, if I may ask?”
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
