descriptive

adjective

de·​scrip·​tive di-ˈskrip-tiv 

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

b

: nonrestrictive

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

Sewell may play Andrew more bumbling than arrogant, even though the second descriptive better sums up the real prince’s attitude throughout that exchange, yet the notion of an supposedly untouchable man repeatedly shooting himself in the crotch remains. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2024

Dunning designed a nicely fluid exhibit which ends with a wall lined with photos, plans and sketches, along with descriptive information, on dozens of Frey works. —John Oseid, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Each meal appears as a little card with a photo of the finished dish and a descriptive tag when relevant—Calorie Smart, Easy, Gourmet, Quick, Hall of Fame. —PCMAG, 27 Mar. 2024

However, since these observers were often unfamiliar with classical texts that had previously described the aurora, these chroniclers used a greater variety of descriptive terms to refer to the same phenomenon, which in turn provides contemporary scientists with more clues about the aurora. —Kim Beil, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

see describe

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing descriptive

• self-descriptive

Kids Definition

descriptive

adjective

de·​scrip·​tive di-ˈskrip-tiv 

: serving to describe

a descriptive account

a descriptive adjective

descriptively adverb

descriptiveness noun