WordGarden.iodescriptive
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /dɪskrˈɪptɪv/
US
- /dɪsˈkrɪptɪv/
Meanings
Adjective
giving details that describe someone or something rather than judging or explaining it
in linguistics, describing how language is actually used rather than prescribing rules for it
in research or statistics, summarizing observed data or features rather than testing causes or making predictions
Beyond the definition
Something descriptive paints a picture with words! Think about telling a story: instead of just saying "It was a house," someone being descriptive might say, "It was a weathered Victorian house, painted a faded lavender color, with a sprawling porch and overgrown rose bushes."
The word comes from the verb "describe," meaning to give a detailed account. Descriptive writing isn't about what something is, but how it looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels. You might describe a character in a novel, a beautiful landscape, or even a complicated scientific process. A descriptive answer on a test shows you understand the details and can communicate them clearly.
The word "descriptive" refers to something that provides a rich and detailed account of a person, place, thing, or idea. It goes beyond simply naming something; it aims to create a vivid impression in the mind of the reader or listener through careful use of language.
"Descriptive" can apply to many things. Descriptive writing is characterized by its focus on sensory details: sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. A good travel writer will be highly descriptive, bringing a location to life for their readers. A descriptive adjective adds detail; instead of saying "a car," you might say "a sleek, red sports car."
A descriptive title or name tells you what something is about. In linguistics, descriptive grammar describes how people actually speak and write, rather than telling them what they should say.
However, "descriptive" isn't limited to creative writing. In science, a descriptive study observes and records information about a phenomenon without attempting to manipulate it or establish cause-and-effect relationships. In statistics, "descriptive statistics" summarize data using measures like mean, median, and mode—providing a detailed overview of the dataset.
Even in everyday conversation, we use "descriptive" to indicate thoroughness. If someone asks for a descriptive account of what happened at the party, they want all the juicy details!
So whether it's painting a picture with words, summarizing data, or simply providing a detailed explanation, "descriptive" always means rich in detail and focused on conveying information effectively.
Examples
- 1
Witness statement
The witness gave a descriptive answer that helped the police identify the car.
- 2
Apartment details
Try to be more descriptive when you talk about the apartment, so people can picture it.
- 3
Creative writing
Her writing is clear and descriptive, especially in the scenes by the sea.
- 4
Business report
The report is mostly descriptive and doesn't say why sales fell.
- Usage
descriptive and analytical are often contrasted: descriptive gives details, while analytical explains reasons
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Statistics class
In this class, we start with descriptive statistics before learning how to test ideas.
- Domaindescriptive statistics
numbers that summarize data
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- descriptivenounadjective
Forms
- descriptivespluralnounadjective