descriptor

noun

de·​scrip·​tor di-ˈskrip-tər 

: 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

Examples of descriptor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All of those descriptors are apt and rightly made it into the many obituaries published following his death on May 6, but Turner’s legacy is not just of a media mogul who created cable news or birthed several other iconic channels. —Josef Adalian, Vulture, 7 May 2026

Duchampian is one of those descriptors that’s both extremely specific and meaningless when misapplied to everything. —Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 24 Apr. 2026

The descriptor should track for anyone who’s spent time with the Atlanta native personally, and — at least until recently — may seem hard to believe to outside observers. —David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2026

These descriptors are given to help folks realize how big hail is with common items, instead of saying the actual measurement. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see describe

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing descriptor

• self-descriptor