1 prescriptive | Definition of prescriptive

prescriptive

adjective
pre·​scrip·​tive | \ pri-ˈskrip-tiv How to pronounce prescriptive (audio) \

Definition of prescriptive

1 : serving to prescribe prescriptive rules of usage
2 : acquired by, founded on, or determined by prescription or by long-standing custom

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Other Words from prescriptive

prescriptively adverb

Examples of prescriptive in a Sentence

Critics claim the new rules are too prescriptive. even in this age of e-mail the prescriptive response to a wedding gift is a handwritten thank-you note

Recent Examples on the Web

The guidelines, while not prescriptive, offer a glimpse at the questions prosecutors could ask companies accused of wrongdoing. — Kristin Broughton, WSJ, "Justice Department Provides Blueprint for Companies on Compliance," 1 May 2019 At once erudite and colloquial, the book resists prescriptive judgments, teems with surprising juxtapositions, and evokes the contagious enthusiasm of a cool teacher. — Amos Barshad, The New Yorker, "Briefly Noted," 7 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prescriptive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of prescriptive

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for prescriptive

prescriptive

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of prescriptive

: giving exact rules, directions, or instructions about how you should do something
technical : providing rules and opinions that tell people how language should be used

prescriptive

adjective
pre·​scrip·​tive | \ pri-ˈskrip-tiv How to pronounce prescriptive (audio) \

Legal Definition of prescriptive

1 : serving to prescribe prescriptive rules
2 : acquired by, founded on, or constituting prescription a prescriptive right a longer prescriptive period

More from Merriam-Webster on prescriptive

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with prescriptive

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for prescriptive

Britannica English: Translation of prescriptive for Arabic Speakers

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