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Discursive: meaning, definitions and examples

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discursive

 

[ dɪˈskɜrsɪv ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

conversation

digressing from subject to subject

Synonyms

digressive, meandering, rambling

Examples of usage

  • He tended to be discursive when describing his travels.
  • Her discursive style made it hard to follow her arguments.
Context #2 | Adjective

writing

tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects

Synonyms

digressive, expansive, rambling

Examples of usage

  • The book was criticized for its discursive nature.
  • In his discursive essay, he explored various themes.

Translations

Translations of the word "discursive" in other languages:

🇵🇹 discursivo

🇮🇳 विवेचनात्मक

🇩🇪 abschweifend

🇮🇩 diskursif

🇺🇦 дискурсивний

🇵🇱 dyskursywny

🇯🇵 議論的な

🇫🇷 discursif

🇪🇸 discursivo

🇹🇷 dalgalı

🇰🇷 담화적인

🇸🇦 خطابي

🇨🇿 diskurzivní

🇸🇰 diskurzívny

🇨🇳 离题的

🇸🇮 diskurziven

🇮🇸 málsamlegur

🇰🇿 дискурсивті

🇬🇪 დისკურსიული

🇦🇿 diskursiv

🇲🇽 discursivo

Etymology

The word 'discursive' originated from the Latin word 'discursivus', which means 'running to and fro'. It entered the English language in the late 16th century. Originally, it was used in the context of reasoning or argumentation, highlighting the idea of moving from one topic to another. Over time, 'discursive' has come to be associated with both spoken and written communication that tends to wander or digress. The word has evolved to represent a style that covers a wide range of topics or shifts away from the main point.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #12,537, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.