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View synonyms for

distinctive

[ dih-stingk-tiv ]

adjective

  1. serving to distinguish; characteristic; distinguishing: distinguishing:

    the distinctive stripes of the zebra.

    Synonyms:

  2. having a special quality, style, attractiveness, etc.; notable.


distinctive

/ ɪˈɪŋɪ /

adjective

  1. serving or tending to distinguish
  2. denoting one of a set of minimal features of a phoneme in a given language that serve to distinguish it from other phonemes. The distinctive features of /p/ in English are that it is voiceless, bilabial, non-nasal, and plosive; /b/ is voiced, bilabial, non-nasal, and plosive: the two differ by the distinctive feature of voice
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • 徱ˈپԳپ, adverb
  • 徱ˈپԳپԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • 徱·پԳt· adverb
  • 徱·پԳt·Ա noun
  • ܲd·پԳt adjective
  • sub徱·پԳt· adverb
  • sub徱·پԳt·Ա noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of distinctive1

First recorded in 1575–85; from Medieval Latin 徱پԳīܲ; equivalent to distinct + -ive
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Chris used to have a grim, distinctive tic of executing his enemies in the head; now, the climactic battle is just a spray of bullets.

From

The distinctive piano, he said, “represents my music, nature and the movement of different cultures.”

From

Researchers found distinctive scratch marks left by the drifting icebergs as they gouged deep tracks into the North Sea floor more than 18,000 years ago.

From

"Look out for our distinctive green and purple Hope Haven birds, based on the wonderful guillemots at St Bees Head."

From

The Swiss chocolate bar's distinctive triangular shape is thought to have been inspired by the Matterhorn in the Alps - a silhouette of which appears on the packaging - though its true origins remain unclear.

From

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distinctiondistinctive feature