descriptor

noun de·scrip·tor \ di-ˈskrip-tər \

Updated on: 27 Apr 2018

Definition of descriptor

: something (such as a word or characteristic feature) that serves to describe or identify; especially : a word or phrase (such as an index term) used to identify an item (such as a subject or document) in an information retrieval system

Recent Examples of descriptor from the Web

People typically use this descriptor to mean an animal is less likely to shed, but that doesn’t help much given that dander is also present in places like a pet’s saliva and skin.

— zahra barnes, SELF, "5 Common Allergens That Are Basically Everywhere and Making You Feel Like Crap," 23 Apr. 2018
The wine’s structure is led by acid, not tannins, and its fruit flavors — cranberry, cherry, blueberry — are descriptors more commonly associated with Pinot Noir, the signature grape variety of Fort Ross-Seaview.

— esther mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, "Tasting Notes: Fort Ross-Seaview and the anti-California Cabernets," 20 Apr. 2018
While each might be a fair descriptor, such recommendations represent doctors' best efforts.

— richard klasco, Washington Post, "‘What did the doctor say?’: A simple question with a difficult answer," 6 Mar. 2018
Meiofauna means lesser or smaller animals, and Higgins has spent a lifetime challenging such a dismissive descriptor.

— adrienne mason, Smithsonian, "King of The Mud Dragons," 2 Mar. 2018
Omari Spellman used a few descriptors commonly used for teams in the old Big East.

— michael casagrande, AL.com, "What Villanova players think of Alabama, Collin Sexton," 16 Mar. 2018
That's a descriptor that's sometimes a backhanded compliment or an outright slight on a basketball player.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Trevon Bluiett put Xavier basketball first en route to 2K points," 25 Jan. 2018
That track aside, this release will do little to convince critics that the Neighbourhood is anything more than Maroon 5’s monochromatic photo negative, and about as intriguing as that descriptor suggests.

— isaac feldberg, BostonGlobe.com, "Absent any fresh ideas, there goes the Neighbourhood," 7 Mar. 2018
These unique descriptors have led doctors to wonder if Lincoln perhaps had Marfan syndrome, a relatively rare genetic condition that was first identified decades after the politician’s death.

— jamie ducharme, Time, "Abraham Lincoln Was Our Tallest President Ever. This May Be Why," 12 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'descriptor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.