descriptively.

In a way that describes observed features or actual usage rather than prescribing what ought to occur.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• descriptively accurate
• descriptively adequate

On the page

The model was descriptively adequate but offered no guidance about what policy should be adopted.

The linguist studied usage descriptively rather than treating every variation as an error.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: Invariable adverb; no plural or tense forms. Comparison is used only where a particular degree naturally permits it. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: inference, qualification, analysis, methodology. Disciplines: academic writing, reasoning, research. Commonness: moderately common.