descriptive

The word “descriptive” means giving a detailed account or picture of something in words. In plain terms, full of detail that paints a picture, or (in language study) reporting real usage rather than dictating rules.

“Descriptive” is pronounced dih-SKRIHP-tihv (/dɪˈskɹɪptɪv/ in IPA).

Here is “descriptive” used in a sentence: “Her writing style is highly descriptive, full of colour and detail.”

The opposite of “descriptive” — its antonyms — are prescriptive, normative and non-descriptive.

“Descriptive” is an adjective.

The word “descriptive” comes from Latin. From Latin descriptivus, "giving a full account," from describere (see "describe").

“Descriptive” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Descriptive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: giving a detailed account or picture of something in words.

Descriptive grammar records how language is actually used by speakers, without judging whether that use is correct, while prescriptive grammar lays down rules for how language should be used according to a set standard. Dictionaries and modern linguists tend to favor descriptive approaches, whereas traditional grammar books are often prescriptive.

Descriptive writing focuses on giving a detailed account or picture of something in words, emphasizing sensory details and imagery, while narrative writing focuses on telling a sequence of events or a story. Descriptive passages can appear within a narrative to enrich scenes, but the two serve different primary purposes.

Adjectives, adverbs, and vivid sensory details are the main tools that make writing more descriptive, since they help paint a detailed picture in the reader's mind. Descriptive writing relies on these elements to convey how something looks, sounds, feels, or otherwise appears.