descriptive.

Describing the characteristics of something or what is observed, rather than prescribing what should be done.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• descriptive account
• descriptive statistics
• descriptive study

On the page

The first section provides a descriptive account of the institution.

Descriptive statistics summarize the sample without establishing causation.

The study is descriptive rather than a test of an intervention.

Usage notes

Primary curation section: Academic. In academic contrasts, descriptive differs from normative or prescriptive. It can also mean vivid or informative in style. Comparative in stylistic use: more descriptive, most descriptive. Related adverb: descriptively.