Illustrative: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when providing a clear example to help explain something. Often found in educational or instructional contexts.

• The professor used an illustrative diagram to explain the concept.
• Her story was illustrative of the struggles faced by many immigrants.

Used when providing an explanation or clarification. Suitable for contexts where something needs to be made clear through words.

• The booklet comes with an explanatory note for each recipe.
• She gave an explanatory speech about the new policy.

Used to describe something or someone serving as a desirable model or the best example. Often used in contexts of praise or perfection.

• She received an award for her exemplary service to the community.
• His exemplary behavior set a standard for all the students.

Used when showing clear evidence of feelings, intentions, or features. Can be formal or emotional.

• He is very demonstrative when it comes to showing affection.
• The graph is demonstrative of the company's growth over the past year.

This word is used when giving examples to clarify or explain something.

• The teacher provided an illustrative example to make the concept clear.
• The book is full of illustrative cases and stories.

This word is used when providing detailed information about the characteristics of something.

• The descriptive passage in the novel creates a vivid picture of the landscape.
• Descriptive language helps readers imagine the scene.

This word is used when relating to sight or images, particularly in contrast to text or sound.

• The presentation included many visual aids to help explain the data.
• Artists rely heavily on visual elements to convey their messages.

This word is used when something is described through pictures or relates to visual representations.

• The pictorial guide made it easy to understand the assembly process.
• Her room was decorated with pictorial representations of famous landmarks.