ENGLISH
REFERENCE

distinctive

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //dɪˈstɪŋktɪv// UK //dɪstˈɪŋktɪv// dis·tinc·tive Archaic

adj. having a special quality or appearance that makes something easy to recognize. It helps you tell one thing apart from others.

adj. possessing a characteristic or quality that serves to distinguish one person or thing from others. Often used to describe sensory details or stylistic traits that are unique to a specific subject.


SIMPLE

The bird has a very distinctive red tail.

CONTEXTUAL

The chef's cooking style is distinctive because he uses rare spices from his home country.

COMPLEX

While many buildings in the city follow a modern glass aesthetic, this cathedral remains distinctive due to its intricate Gothic spires and weathered limestone facade.

Synonyms
Origin

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.

Usage

Typically functions as an attributive adjective before a noun or a predicative adjective after a linking verb.

Pitfall

The two items are very distinctive.The two items are very distinct.Distinctive means having a unique quality that identifies something; distinct means clearly separate or different from something else.

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