demonstrative

1 of 2

adjective

de·​mon·​stra·​tive di-ˈmän(t)-strə-tiv 

1

a

: demonstrating as real or true

b

: characterized or established by demonstration

2

grammar : pointing out the one referred to and distinguishing it from others of the same class (as in that in "that house")

demonstrative pronouns

demonstrative adjectives

3

a

: marked by display of feeling

made a demonstrative gesture

b

: inclined to display feelings openly

a demonstrative preacher

demonstratively adverb

demonstrativeness noun

demonstrative

2 of 2

noun

grammar

: a word or morpheme pointing out the one referred to and distinguishing it from others of the same class : a demonstrative (see demonstrative entry 1 sense 2) word or morpheme

the demonstratives "this," "that," "these," and "those"

Synonyms

Adjective

• effusive
• emotional
• touchy-feely
• uninhibited
• unreserved
• unrestrained

Examples of demonstrative in a Sentence

Adjective

In the phrase “this is my hat,” the word “this” is a demonstrative pronoun.

In the phrase “give me that book,” the word “that” is a demonstrative adjective.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Infants’ ability to receive and send direct gazes is thought to be demonstrative of how children process social information. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 9 Nov. 2023

The story’s romance is warmly inviting, and DiCaprio and Gladstone work beautifully together, their different performance styles — Ernest is physically demonstrative while Mollie is reserved — creating a contrapuntal whole. —Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023

The demonstrative elimination of Prigozhin and the Wagner command two months after the coup attempt is a signal from Putin to Russia's elites ahead of the 2024 elections. —Joel Gehrke, Washington Examiner, 23 Aug. 2023

The team’s most demonstrative ultra group, the F Side, began to hurl flares onto the field in protest. —Rory Smith, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2023

While dad can be quite demonstrative, son is still developing a louder voice to go with his ability to lead by example. —Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Aug. 2023

The Ravens haven’t had an offensive coordinator as demanding and demonstrative since Gary Kubiak put up record numbers in 2014. —Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2023

Not for the first time, the demonstrative cleverness of his storytelling can seem too precise, too hermetically sealed and engineered, for a sense of raw collective devastation to fully take hold. —Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2023

A week from Monday at Oracle Park, the former San Francisco Giants closer is likely to have his most demonstrative moments yet, at least judging by a simple session of throwing on the backfield at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday. —Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2023

Noun

Johnny and Ponyboy are also unusually physical demonstrative. —Charles McNultytheater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English demonstratyf "based on logic, pointing out (of a pronoun)," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French demonstratif, borrowed from Late Latin dēmonstrātīvus "pointing out (of a pronoun), able to prove" (Latin, "displaying—in rhetoric"), from Latin dēmonstrātus, past participle of dēmonstrāre "to indicate, show, demonstrate" + -īvus -ive

Noun

Middle English demonstratyf, borrowed from Late Latin dēmonstrātīvum, noun derivative from neuter of dēmonstrātīvus demonstrative entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

demonstrative

1 of 2 adjective

de·​mon·​stra·​tive di-ˈmän(t)-strət-iv 

1

: characterized or established by demonstration

demonstrative reasoning

2

: indicating the one referred to and pointing it out from others of the same kind

the demonstrative pronoun "this" in "this is my hat"

the demonstrative adjective "that" in "that book"

3

: showing feeling freely

a demonstrative greeting

demonstratively adverb

demonstrative

2 of 2 noun

: a demonstrative word

especially : a demonstrative pronoun