distinctive

[ dih-stingk-tiv ]

adjective

1. serving to distinguish; characteristic; distinguishing: distinguishing:

   the distinctive stripes of the zebra.

   Synonyms: individual

2. having a special quality, style, attractiveness, etc.; notable.

distinctive

/ dɪˈstɪŋktɪv /

adjective

1. serving or tending to distinguish
2. denoting one of a set of minimal features of a phoneme in a given language that serve to distinguish it from other phonemes. The distinctive features of /p/ in English are that it is voiceless, bilabial, non-nasal, and plosive; /b/ is voiced, bilabial, non-nasal, and plosive: the two differ by the distinctive feature of voice

Derived Forms

• disˈtinctively, adverb
• disˈtinctiveness, noun

Other Words From

• dis·tinctive·ly adverb
• dis·tinctive·ness noun
• subdis·tinctive adjective
• subdis·tinctive·ly adverb
• subdis·tinctive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of distinctive¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Medieval Latin distinctīvus; equivalent to distinct + -ive

Example Sentences

Of course, the producers had to find a performer gifted enough to channel Angela’s distinctive voice in convincing fashion.

From Los Angeles Times

The design he settled upon is now affectionately referred to as The Armadillo – its distinctive shape becoming a familiar Cardiff Bay landmark.

From BBC

The Joshua tree is cherished for its distinctive silhouette and singular role as a linchpin of the Mojave Desert ecosystem.

From Los Angeles Times

The indie-film director is content to keep his works small and distinctive, as with his older films ‘Tangerine’ and ‘The Florida Project.’

From Los Angeles Times

The animal tissue consumed is typically muscle, which has a distinctive shape made from fibers of protein that are bundled together with connective tissue.

From Salon

Related Words

• cool
• extraordinary
• idiosyncratic
• offbeat
• original
• peculiar
• singular
• special
• weird