distinctive

dis·tinc·tive

adjective \di-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv\

Definition of DISTINCTIVE

1

a : serving to distinguish <the distinctive flight of the crane>

b : having or giving style or distinction <a distinctive table setting>

2

: capable of making a segment of utterance different in meaning as well as in sound from an otherwise identical utterance

— dis·tinc·tive·ly adverb

— dis·tinc·tive·ness noun

Examples of DISTINCTIVE

1. He had a very distinctive walk.
2. This wine has a more distinctive flavor than that one.
3. The store sells only the most distinctive chocolates.

First Known Use of DISTINCTIVE

15th century

Related to DISTINCTIVE

Synonyms

disparate, dissimilar, distant, distinct, different, distinguishable, diverse, nonidentical, other, unalike, unlike

Antonyms

alike, identical, indistinguishable, kin, kindred, like, parallel, same, similar

Related Words

divers, miscellaneous, mixed, several, sundry, variant, varied, various; differentiable, discriminable; alternate, alternative, individual, particular, peculiar, single; disproportionate, divergent, unequal

Near Antonyms

equal, selfsame; equivalent, tantamount; akin, analogous, comparable, homological, homologous, related; homogeneous, homogenous, uniform

See Synonym Discussion at characteristic