Word
distinctive
Meanings
clearly different from others; easy to recognize because of special features
having a particular style or character that makes something stand out as a brand, artist, place, or group
Definition
Distinctive means clearly different from others and easy to recognize.
If something is distinctive, it has qualities that make it stand out from similar things. These qualities are noticeable and help you identify it quickly. You can use it to describe features such as a voice, style, smell, design, or behavior.
Examples
- Her distinctive laugh carried across the room, and everyone knew immediately who had arrived.
- I recognized the chef’s distinctive use of citrus and herbs as soon as I tasted the sauce.
- Their distinctive architecture makes the old district feel unlike any other part of the city.
- Your distinctive writing style keeps the argument clear even when the topic gets complex.
- He chose a distinctive shade of green for the front door so visitors could find the house easily.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse distinctive with distinguished (meaning respected or famous), but distinctive means simply easy to recognize because it is different.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.