distinctive
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having a special quality or appearance that makes something different from others and easy to notice.
adj.characteristic of a specific person, group, or thing, serving to distinguish it from others of the same type.
Simple“The male bird has a distinctive red patch on its wings that makes it easy to spot.”
In context“The architect's work is known for its distinctive use of raw concrete and geometric shapes, which sets it apart from the surrounding traditional buildings.”
UsageOften used before a noun to describe a style, smell, or sound.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse 'distinctive' with 'distinct'. Remind them that 'distinctive' is about a unique personality or brand, while 'distinct' is about being separate or clear.
PitfallThe two brothers have a very distinctive look. The two brothers have very distinct looks.Use 'distinctive' for a unique quality that identifies someone. Use 'distinct' when you mean two things are clearly separate or different from each other.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.used in language to show a difference in meaning or to separate parts of a sentence.
adj.serving to distinguish a particular sense of a word or to separate clauses in a text.
Simple“In English, the difference between 'p' and 'b' is a distinctive feature because it changes the word's meaning.”
In context“The researcher identified several distinctive accents in the ancient manuscript that functioned as punctuation to guide the reader through complex clauses.”
UsageCommon in phonology and grammar to describe features that change meaning.
Teacher's tipThis is a specialized sense used mostly in linguistics or academic study of ancient texts.
Synonymsdistinguishingcontrastive - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a specific quality or belief that makes a group or thing different from others.
n.a characteristic property or a specific tenet that distinguishes a particular group, denomination, or entity.
Simple“One of the distinctives of this local culture is their unique style of folk music.”
In context“The professor spent the lecture outlining the theological distinctives that separated the two sects during the seventeenth century.”
UsageUsually refers to abstract qualities like beliefs or properties.
Teacher's tipThe noun form is much rarer than the adjective and is typically found in academic or religious contexts.
Synonyms
“Lar gibbons are small apes covered in blonde or dark brown fur, with a distinctive ring of white fur around their faces.”
“Scientists have pinpointed a brain network—and its distinctive electrical rhythm—that appears to drive the benefits of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease.”
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.