descriptor

noun de·scrip·tor \ di-ˈskrip-tər \

|Updated on: 20 Jul 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

Not great—which works as a descriptor for most things about the current state of this rotation outside of J.A. Happ. 19.

— emma baccellieri, SI.com, "The Mariners Firmly Enter Baseball's Top Tier in Our Latest Power Rankings," 2 July 2018
Futuristic and fluid were just two descriptors that characterized the Spring 2019 Menswear runways, which resonated with an inclusive ethos that blurred international borders and genders alike, making closets more sharable than ever.

— calin van paris, Vogue, "6 Beauty Tricks to Steal from the Mens Runways, From Glitter Bangs to Straight Edge Bobs," 25 June 2018
But racial categories were never just physical descriptors.

— john blake, CNN, "The blurring of racial lines won't save America. Why 'racial fluidity' is a con," 11 June 2018
Locally, it's known as the Left Turn of Death, Intersection from Hell, and other descriptors which cannot be printed here.

— andrew theen, OregonLive.com, "Beaverton's 'intersection from hell' will, finally, get traffic signals," 5 June 2018
Even the oyster scene with Jake, which shows up early in the show, lacks the danger and temptation of the novel’s salty, slippery descriptors.

— alissa wilkinson, Vox, "The delectable possibility and bland reality of Sweetbitter," 25 May 2018
Toyota's press release heralding the new Corolla has some wonderful descriptors, some of which sound like the names of Iain M. Banks' Culture ships.

— jonathan m. gitlin, Ars Technica, "Crafty new engine tech, two electric SUVs among best at New York Auto Show," 30 Mar. 2018
The trial was also rife with colorful code names and other descriptors of the bribes and behind-the-scenes dealings.

— erica orden, WSJ, "Former Cuomo Aide Convicted of Bribery, Fraud," 13 Mar. 2018
Basic silhouette descriptors, the time of year, and the look and feel of your wedding will help your consultant hone in on the best styles to show you. 7.

— carrie goldberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "10 Mistakes to Avoid When Shopping for a Wedding Dress," 5 June 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.