prescriptive
adjective
pre·scrip·tive
pri-ˈskrip-tiv 
1
: serving to prescribe
prescriptive rules of usage
2
: acquired by, founded on, or determined by prescription or by long-standing custom
prescriptively
adverb
Examples of prescriptive in a Sentence
Critics claim the new rules are too prescriptive.
even in this age of e-mail the prescriptive response to a wedding gift is a handwritten thank-you note
Recent Examples on the Web
On the surface, minimalism is not politically prescriptive, though the minimalists of the 1960s could be propagandists, too, using their platform to promote political causes.
—
Adam Bradley, New York Times, 10 May 2024
In the medieval period, prescriptive literature warned women of the dangers of anger—one of the seven deadly sins.
—Pragya Agarwal, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prescriptive 
Adam Bradley, New York Times, 10 May 2024
In the medieval period, prescriptive literature warned women of the dangers of anger—one of the seven deadly sins.
—Pragya Agarwal, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prescriptive
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prescriptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Prescriptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prescriptive. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
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prescriptive
adjective
pre·scrip·tive
pri-ˈskrip-tiv
1
: serving to prescribe
prescriptive rules
2
: acquired by, founded on, or constituting prescription
a prescriptive right
a longer prescriptive period
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