descriptive
adjective
de·scrip·tive
di-ˈskrip-tiv 
1
: presenting observations about the characteristics of someone or something : serving to describe
a descriptive account
2
a
: referring to, constituting, or grounded in matters of observation or experience
the descriptive basis of science
b
: factually grounded or informative rather than normative, prescriptive, or emotive
descriptive cultural studies
3
of a modifier
a
: expressing the quality, kind, or condition of what is denoted by the modified term
hot in "hot water" is a descriptive adjective
b
4
linguistics
: of, relating to, or dealing with the structure of a language at a particular time usually with exclusion of historical and comparative data
descriptive linguistics
descriptively
adverb
descriptiveness
noun
Examples of descriptive in a Sentence
She gave a descriptive account of the journey.
a talent for descriptive writing
a poem full of descriptive detail
The black cat was given the descriptive name “Midnight.”
The book is a descriptive grammar.
Recent Examples on the Web
According to the lawsuit, the first suspension came after employees reported 11 inappropriate statements D’Souza allegedly made to subordinates, some using race as a descriptive term.
—
Bymeredith Wadman, science.org, 4 Nov. 2024
Vehicle names don’t come much more descriptive than the Biturbo.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024
My medical invoices had descriptive line items and when placed next to photos of the mouldy air-conditioning units, told a plain story of cause and effect.
—Melissa Kenny, refinery29.com, 30 Oct. 2024
Not just a viscerally moving story or a triumph of descriptive writing, this also happens to be a feel-good romance.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for descriptive 
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Bymeredith Wadman, science.org, 4 Nov. 2024
Vehicle names don’t come much more descriptive than the Biturbo.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024
My medical invoices had descriptive line items and when placed next to photos of the mouldy air-conditioning units, told a plain story of cause and effect.
—Melissa Kenny, refinery29.com, 30 Oct. 2024
Not just a viscerally moving story or a triumph of descriptive writing, this also happens to be a feel-good romance.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for descriptive
Articles Related to descriptive
Words for Dictionary Supernerds
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A Word on 'Descriptive' and...
When it comes to words, we're the descriptive sort.
Dictionary Entries Near descriptive
Cite this Entry
“Descriptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/descriptive. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
descriptive
adjective
de·scrip·tive
di-ˈskrip-tiv
: serving to describe
a descriptive account
a descriptive adjective
descriptively
adverb
descriptiveness
noun
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