Word Adjective
illustrative
adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˌɪˈɫəstɹətɪv/ UK /ˈɪləstɹətˌɪv/ il·lus·tra·tive
Definition
adj.serving as an example to help explain or show something more clearly.
adj.serving as an example or explanation of something. Often used to clarify abstract concepts through concrete instances.
Examples
“The teacher used an illustrative story to explain the lesson.”
“The report includes several illustrative charts to help the board understand the recent drop in sales.”
“While the data points are merely illustrative and do not represent the entire population, they provide a compelling snapshot of current consumer trends in the region.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun; often takes the preposition 'of'.
Pitfall
The map is illustrative for the route.The map is illustrative of the route.
When followed by a noun phrase, the adjective typically takes the preposition 'of' rather than 'for'.
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated