What does "distinctive" mean?
A distinctive thing: a quality or property permitting distinguishing; a characteristic.
Distinctive
/dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A distinctive thing: a quality or property permitting distinguishing; a characteristic.
- Grammar: distinctive is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: accurate, appreciative, appropriate, articulate.
- Useful contrasts: ambiguous, bland, blander.
- Usage evidence: Japan has many distinctive traits.
How to use "distinctive"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "distinctive" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "distinctive" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "distinctive" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "distinctive" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "distinctive" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "accurate" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "distinctive", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A distinctive thing: a quality or property permitting distinguishing; a characteristic.
"...the red umbrella, the distinctive of royalty here..."
- 2 A distinctive accent. Hebrew
"A distinctive of less power than Zakeph is Ṭiphḥâ."
- 3 A distinctive belief, tenet, or dogma of a denomination or sect.
"Mennonites could go forth somewhat detached from the chauvinism of Western culture—but not so from the Mennonite distinctives."
Adjective
- 1 Distinguishing, used to or enabling the distinguishing of some thing.
"a product in distinctive packaging"
- 2 Discriminating, discerning, having the ability to distinguish between things. rare
"[…]more judicious and distinctive heads..."
- 3 Characteristic, typical.
"his distinctive bass voice"
- 4 Distinguished, being distinct in character or position. rare
"The refugees... at length ceased to exist as a distinctive body among the people."
- 5 Used to separate clauses in place of stops. Hebrew
"These are the main distinctive accents, and by stopping at them... the reader will do justice to the sense."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Distinguishing a particular sense of word.
"Normally we symbolize only phonemes (distinctive features) so far as we can determine them."
Adjective
- 1 of a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing wordnet
- 2 capable of being classified wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Japan has many distinctive traits."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "distinctive"?
Common synonyms include: accurate, appreciative, appropriate, articulate, audible, biological characteristic.
How do you use "distinctive" in a sentence?
Japan has many distinctive traits.
How do you pronounce "distinctive"?
Pronounced /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/.
Etymology
From Latin distinctus, perfect passive participle of distinguere (“to push apart, to divide”), + -ive (forming adjectives signifying relation or tendency to). Cognate with French distinctif and Medieval Latin distinctivus.