instructive

adjective

in·​struc·​tive in-ˈstrək-tiv How to pronounce instructive (audio)
: carrying a lesson : enlightening
instructively adverb
instructiveness noun

Examples of instructive in a Sentence

an interesting and instructive lesson an instructive demonstration of the proper way to pack a suitcase so your clothes don't arrive in a mess
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His current gig at the forestry nonprofit Canopy, which helps companies scale deforestation-free innovations, has been instructive, even though there isn’t much overlap between sustainable viscose and the bovine leather alternatives that Brave GentleMan touted. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 9 May 2025 The leadership team’s characterization of the business climate and the outlook, while subjective, can be instructive. Catherine Brock, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025 Depositphotos Participants’ responses to interview questions were instructive. New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2025 The exact figures involved have never been clear, but Newcastle’s accounts are instructive. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for instructive

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of instructive was in 1611

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Cite this Entry

“Instructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instructive. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

instructive

adjective
in·​struc·​tive in-ˈstrək-tiv How to pronounce instructive (audio)
: giving knowledge : helping to instruct or inform
an instructive experience
instructively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on instructive

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