DISTINCTIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does distinctive mean? 

• DISTINCTIVE (adjective)
  The adjective DISTINCTIVE has 2 senses:

1. of a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing

2. capable of being classified

  Familiarity information: DISTINCTIVE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISTINCTIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing

Synonyms:

distinctive; typical

Context example:

that is typical of you!

Similar:

characteristic (typical or distinctive)

Derivation:

distinctiveness (a distinguishing trait)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Capable of being classified

Synonyms:

classifiable; distinctive

Similar:

identifiable (capable of being identified)

Derivation:

distinctiveness (a distinguishing trait)

 Context examples 

A sudden, often repetitive, spasmodic contraction of the thoracic cavity, resulting in violent release of air from the lungs, and usually accompanied by a distinctive sound.

(Cough, NCI Thesaurus)

Cerebral tissue composed of cells with distinctive characteristics.

(Cortical Cell Layer of the Cerebral Cortex, NCI Thesaurus)

The solid head is covered with a distinctive topknot.

(Dandie Dinmont Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of dog known for its special or distinctive characteristics.

(Dog Breed, NCI Thesaurus)

A noteworthy happening that is distinctive in a series of related events.

(Episode, NCI Thesaurus)

The act of describing distinctive characteristics or essential features.

(Characterization, NCI Thesaurus)

A distinctive characteristic of the skin marked by the amount of sebum secreted by sebaceous glands.

(CDISC SDTM Skin Type Terminology, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

A distinctive alpha-numeric identification code assigned by the manufacturer or distributor to a specific quantity of manufactured material or product that is produced in a manner that is expected to render it homogeneous.

(Batch Number, NCI Thesaurus)

Cellular and nuclear atypia are the distinctive features as compared to hyperplasia.

(Atypical Adenomatous Hyperplasia of the Mouse Pulmonary System, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

Bladder cancers arise and progress along two distinctive pathways.

(Bladder Cancer Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)