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 Many experts in the field, including myself, agree that SB 1047 outlines a bare minimum for effective regulation of frontier AI models against foreseeable risks and that its compliance requirements are light and not prescriptive by intention. Yoshua Bengio, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2024 The Blueprint is largely prescriptive in its implementation, mandating expenditures with few exceptions. Baltimore Sun Media, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2024 Our thought bubble: This decision suggests Congress ought to be more prescriptive in its dictations to EPA. Nick Sobczyk, Axios, 10 July 2024 Bio Sculpture products are prescriptive in nature, meaning that they can be personalised precisely to the client’s exact nail needs. refinery29.com, 18 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for prescriptive 

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 8 Sep. 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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