prescriptive

adjective

pre·​scrip·​tive pri-ˈskrip-tiv How to pronounce prescriptive (audio)
1
: serving to prescribe
prescriptive rules of usage
2
: acquired by, founded on, or determined by prescription or by long-standing custom
prescriptively adverb

Examples of prescriptive in a Sentence

Critics claim the new rules are too prescriptive. even in this age of e-mail the prescriptive response to a wedding gift is a handwritten thank-you note
Recent Examples on the Web In the medieval period, prescriptive literature warned women of the dangers of anger—one of the seven deadly sins. Pragya Agarwal, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2024 Caldwell can’t stress this point enough—these categories from YC aren’t meant to be prescriptive. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2024 While helpful, these guidelines aren’t meant to be prescriptive or comprehensive. Ed Wallen, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 This is a seismic shift from descriptive statistics to predictive analytics and prescriptive actions. Alon Goren, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Predictive capabilities uncover trends and behaviors, while prescriptive modeling guides optimal actions, sparking faster growth. Mark Minevich, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 There’s no prescriptive way to listen to this record. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 14 Feb. 2024 The important thing is to be able to always give value to their contribution, without simply dropping it into a prescriptive template. Grace Banks, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 And as the technology develops, these prescriptive requirements will constrain companies from being able to adapt their offerings to the needs of their customers. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 17 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prescriptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prescriptive was in 1663

Dictionary Entries Near prescriptive

Cite this Entry

“Prescriptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prescriptive. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

prescriptive

adjective
pre·​scrip·​tive pri-ˈskrip-tiv How to pronounce prescriptive (audio)
1
: serving to prescribe
prescriptive rules
2
: acquired by, founded on, or constituting prescription
a prescriptive right
a longer prescriptive period

More from Merriam-Webster on prescriptive

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