Distinctive — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /di-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv/ dis·tinc·tive

Meaning & Definition of Distinctive

Distinctive (adjective)

  1. marking as separate or different, serving to distinguish
  2. having or giving an uncommon and appealing quality, having or giving style or distinction
  3. capable of making a segment of utterance different in meaning as well as in sound from an otherwise identical utterance

Distinctive (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being not of the same kind

    "she seems to alternate between two distinctive hairstyles"

    similar: different, disparate, dissimilar, distant, distinct, distinguishable, diverse, nonidentical, other, unalike, unlike
    related: divers, miscellaneous, mixed, several, sundry, variant, varied, various, differentiable, discriminable, alternate, alternative, individual, particular, peculiar, single, disproportionate, divergent, unequal
    opposite: alike, identical, indistinguishable, kin, kindred, like, parallel, same, similar
    near: equal, selfsame, equivalent, tantamount, akin, analogous, comparable, homological, homologous, related, homogeneous, homogenous, uniform

  2. serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group

    "the distinctive odor of a barnyard"

    similar: characteristic, classic, diagnostic, discriminating, distinct, distinguishing, identifying, individual, peculiar, proper, symptomatic, typical
    related: idiosyncratic, identifiable, pronounced, unmistakable, general, generic, common, normal, regular, usual, especial, particular, special, specific, archetypal, model, paradigmatic
    opposite: atypical, nontypical, uncharacteristic, untypical

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Distinctive

The most common words with a similar meaning to Distinctive:

different, disparate, dissimilar, distant, distinct, distinguishable, diverse, nonidentical, other, unalike, unlike, characteristic, classic, diagnostic, discriminating, distinguishing, identifying, individual, peculiar, proper, symptomatic, typical

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Distinctive

Words with the opposite meaning of Distinctive:

alike, identical, indistinguishable, kin, kindred, like, parallel, same, similar, atypical, nontypical, uncharacteristic, untypical

Related Words for Distinctive

divers, miscellaneous, mixed, several, sundry, variant, varied, various, differentiable, discriminable, alternate, alternative, particular, single, disproportionate, divergent, unequal, idiosyncratic, identifiable, pronounced, unmistakable, general, generic, common, normal, regular, usual, especial, special, specific

Near Antonyms of Distinctive

equal, selfsame, equivalent, tantamount, akin, analogous, comparable, homological, homologous, related, homogeneous, homogenous, uniform

Word Forms of Distinctive

Derived words: distinctively (adverb), distinctiveness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Distinctive

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Distinctive

Frequently Asked Questions about Distinctive

What does "Distinctive" mean?

"Distinctive" means marking as separate or different, serving to distinguish. As an adjective, it is defined as: marking as separate or different, serving to distinguish. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Distinctive"?

Other words for "Distinctive" include different, disparate, dissimilar, distant, distinct, distinguishable, diverse and nonidentical. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Distinctive" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Distinctive"?

There are 55 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Distinctive". Common alternatives include different, disparate, dissimilar, distant, distinct, distinguishable, diverse, nonidentical, other and unalike.

What is the opposite of "Distinctive"?

Antonyms of "Distinctive" include alike, identical, indistinguishable, kin, kindred, like, parallel and same. Near antonyms include equal, selfsame, equivalent and tantamount.

How do you use "Distinctive" in a sentence?

Examples of "Distinctive" in a sentence: "she seems to alternate between two distinctive hairstyles"; "the distinctive odor of a barnyard".

Is "Distinctive" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Distinctive" is an adjective.

Is "Distinctive" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Distinctive" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Distinctive"?

"Distinctive" is pronounced /di-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv/ and divided into syllables as dis·tinc·tive.