Added 9 October 2026
distinctive
/dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/ adjective
Latin root: distinctus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about distinctive at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Distinguishing, used to or enabling the distinguishing of some thing.
a product in distinctive packaging
- Discriminating, discerning, having the ability to distinguish between things.
-
Characteristic, typical.
his distinctive bass voice
noun
- A distinctive thing: a quality or property permitting distinguishing; a characteristic.
- A distinctive accent.
- A distinctive belief, tenet, or dogma of a denomination or sect.
Origin
From Latin distinctus, perfect passive participle of distinguere (to push apart, to divide; see distinct) + -ive (forming adjectives signifying relation or tendency to). Cognate with French distinctif and Medieval Latin distinctivus.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)