descriptive

adjective

de·​scrip·​tive di-ˈskrip-tiv How to pronounce descriptive (audio)
1
: presenting observations about the characteristics of someone or something : serving to describe
a descriptive account
2
a
: referring to, constituting, or grounded in matters of observation or experience
the descriptive basis of science
b
: factually grounded or informative rather than normative, prescriptive, or emotive
descriptive cultural studies
3
of a modifier
a
: expressing the quality, kind, or condition of what is denoted by the modified term
hot in "hot water" is a descriptive adjective
4
linguistics : of, relating to, or dealing with the structure of a language at a particular time usually with exclusion of historical and comparative data
descriptive linguistics
descriptively adverb
descriptiveness noun

Examples of descriptive in a Sentence

She gave a descriptive account of the journey. a talent for descriptive writing a poem full of descriptive detail The black cat was given the descriptive name “Midnight.” The book is a descriptive grammar.
Recent Examples on the Web The descriptive setup instructions are a blessing when putting this one together. Katrina Cossey, Parents, 1 Mar. 2024 This is a seismic shift from descriptive statistics to predictive analytics and prescriptive actions. Alon Goren, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 His work included the development of the vividly descriptive Schmidt sting pain index as a means of comparing the effects of insect venom. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2024 The new names will aim to be more descriptive either about the birds' habitats or physical characteristics. Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Jan. 2024 Stories with emotions and descriptive sensory elements are more likely to resonate. G. Riley Mills, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 The beautiful catalogue produced by the Japanese American National Museum has an essential essay on Samoan tattoo motifs with descriptive design charts. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 10 Feb. 2024 Sorkin restructures the plot to arrive at Robinson's trial more quickly and then weave in the descriptive scenes of daily life. The Indianapolis Star, 24 Jan. 2024 Then flip to local reporters who wrote a very descriptive story about Oakland Police Department Officer Tuan Le’s funeral on Page 1. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 19 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'descriptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see describe

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of descriptive was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near descriptive

Cite this Entry

“Descriptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/descriptive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

descriptive

adjective
de·​scrip·​tive di-ˈskrip-tiv How to pronounce descriptive (audio)
: serving to describe
a descriptive account
a descriptive adjective
descriptively adverb
descriptiveness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!