Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Distinctive |
DistinctiveAdjective1. Of a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing; "Jerusalem has a distinctive Middle East flavor"- Curtis Wilkie; "that is typical of you!". 2. Possible to classify. 3. Serving to distinguish or identify a species or group; "the distinguishing mark of the species is its plumage"; "distinctive tribal tattoos"; "we were asked to describe any identifying marks or distinguishing features". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "distinctive" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1550. (references) |
Etymology: Distinctive \Dis*tinc"tive\, adjective. [Compare to the French expression distinctif.]. (Websters 1913) |
Synonyms: DistinctiveSynonyms: classifiable (adj), distinguishing (adj), identifying(a) (adj), typical (adj). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Difference | Other, another, not the same; unequal. unmatched; widely apart, poles apart, distinctive, characteristic; discriminative; distinguishing. |
Discrimination | Adjective: discriminating; Verb: dioristic, discriminative, distinctive; nice. |
Speciality | Noun: {opp. } speciality, specialite; individuality, individuity; particularity, peculiarity; idiocrasy; (tendency); personality, characteristic, mannerism, idiosyncrasy; specificness; Adjective: singularity; (unconformity); reading, version, lection; state; trait; distinctive feature; technicality; differentia. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
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Music |
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High Tech |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | This large (7 by 11 mm) macular lesion displays an irregular, scalloped border, which is indistinct in some areas. In addition to hues of tan and brown, several pink areas (arrows) are present. The presence of pink colors in the macular portion of a melanocytic nevus is quite distinctive for dysplastic nevi. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist. |  | This lesion has a dark brown, "pebbly" elevated surface against a lighter tan, macular background. The irregular, indistinct margin of the nevus helps to distinguish it from the small congenital-pattern nevus, which some dysplastic nevi closely resemble clinically. Its distinctive morphology, not its size (6 by 6 mm), identifies it as a dysplastic nevus. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist. |
 | Francisella tularensis is a poorly staining, very tiny gram-negative coccobacillus (0.2-0.7 m), seen mostly as single cells. Bipolar staining is not a distinctive feature. Credit: CDC. |  | Transmission electron micrograph of intact rotavirus particles, double-shelled. Distinctive rim of radiating capsomeres. Credit: CDC. |
 | Humpback whale's - Megaptera novaeangliae - tail - distinctive markings allow identification of individual. Credit: NOAA's Ark (Animals). |  | Nautical chart of New York Harbor, 1845 There were earlier sketches of harbors But this was the first chart produced with the distinctive Coast Survey style. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |
 | The notch in a humpback whale's tail is distinctive. Megaptera novaeangliae. Credit: National Undersea Research Program (NURP). |  | Food service workers will trade in their white uniforms for distinctive "chefs" jackets and blue trousers. The Air Force chief of staff recently approved the new uniform which establishes a standard uniform for wear by people working in dining f. |
 | Interior, rotunda, general view from east. Photograph by Jack E. Boucher, November 1976. (Reproduction Number: HABS IOWA,97-SIOCI,3-17) Completed in 1918 to designs by Purcell & Elmslie, the Woodbury County Courthouse is a rare example of a Prairie style design for a large public building. The Prairie style is known for its bold and simple geometric forms and distinctive ornamentation inspired by nature, and was made famous by Louis Sullivan and his student Frank Lloyd Wright, key figures in the Prairie school who developed systems of abstracting architectural decoration from sources in nature. The term Prairie style refers to the style's origins in the American Midwest, and its evocation of that region's fertile prairies and flat terrain. The interior rotunda shown here is the focal point of the courthouse. It incorporates simple rectangles and squares with a stained glass dome and uses terra cotta ornament reminiscent of the prairie. Credit: Library of Congress. |  | Exterior close-up of tower from north. Photograph by Jack E. Boucher, August 1969. (Reproduction Number: HABS WIS,51-RACI,5-6) The great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright made national headlines in 1936 with his designs for the Pennsylvania house known as Fallingwater and this building, the Johnson Wax Corporation Building in Racine, Wisconsin. Using reinforced concrete, brick, and innovative glass tubing, Wright created one of his most distinctive commercial designs for Johnson Wax. The eight-story research tower shown here was completed in 1947 to complement the original building. Each floor of the tower is cantilevered out from a central cylindrical core. The exterior walls are made of layers of curved glass tubing and brick. Credit: Library of Congress. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Play | Caption |
 | Excellent; great; superb; superior; good news; accomplished; admirable; attractive; capital; certified; champion; choice; choicest; desirable; distinctive; distinguished; estimable; exceptional; exemplary; exquisite; fine; finest; first; first-class; firs. |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Author | Quotation |
Everett | All the distinctive features and superiority of our republican institutions are derived from the teachings of Scripture. |
John Ruskin | The distinctive character of a child is to always live in the tangible present. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
Communist Manifesto | 1848 | The abolition of existing property relations is not at all a distinctive feature of Communism. (reference) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | It has a distinctive bitter chemical taste. (references) | |
However, IBM has its own distinctive features. (references) | ||
Cancer tissue has a distinctive appearance under the microscope. (references) | ||
Business | Eventually, with its distinctive tax advantage and efficient approval process, leasing became an attractive source of financing. (references) | |
This new demand has been created in part by many restaurant owners and operators seeking ways to differentiate themselves by looking for new concepts or distinctive menus. (references) | ||
Network management, technical assistance, and end-user training are other distinctive growing areas of involvement for firms specialized in Internet-Intranet related computer and network services. (references) | ||
Civil Liberties | Laos | Some refugee returnees carry government-issued identification cards with distinctive markings, ostensibly for use by authorities. (references) |
Afghanistan | On July 3, the Taliban announced that Hindus would be consulted before ordering them to wear any distinctive mark to differentiate themselves from Muslims. (references) | |
Yemen | Followers of other religions are free to worship according to their beliefs and to wear religiously distinctive ornaments or dress; however, the Government forbids conversions, requires permission for the construction of new places of worship, and prohibits non-Muslims from proselytizing and holding elected office. (references) | |
Economic History | Bolivia | Its regional folk music is distinctive and varied. (references) |
Taiwan | Taiwan's culture is a blend of its distinctive Chinese heritage and Western influences. (references) | |
Morocco | The country's distinctive Arabic dialect is the most widely spoken language in Morocco. (references) | |
Minorities | Philippines | Some Muslims therefore use a Christian pseudonym and do not wear distinctive dress when applying for housing or jobs. (references) |
Philippines | Muslims report that they have difficulty renting rooms in boarding houses or being hired for retail work if they use their real name or wear distinctive Muslim dress. (references) | |
India | The Pandit community criticizes bleak physical, educational, and economic conditions in the camps and fears that a negotiated solution giving greater autonomy to the Muslim majority might threaten its own survival in Jammu and Kashmir as a culturally and historically distinctive group. (references) | |
Trade | Taiwan | All imported cargo must bear a mark of distinctive design, a set of three or more letters, or a combination of design and letters indelibly stenciled, stamped, or burned on the packing or on the cargo itself. (references) |
Travel | Honduras | A distinctive characteristic of Honduras is the diversity in weather and topography. (references) |
Bahamas | Business Customs: The national language of The Bahamas is English, sometimes spoken with a distinctive local accent and the use of colorful local expressions. (references) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Distinctive" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 99.91% of the time. "Distinctive" is used about 2,153 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 99.91% | 2,151 | 4,060 |
| Noun (proper) | 0.09% | 2 | 245,945 |
| Total | 100.00% | 2,153 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expressions using "distinctive": distinctive badges ♦ distinctive feature ♦ distinctive features ♦ distinctive mark ♦ distinctive quality ♦ distinctive waiting tones. Additional references. | |
| Hypenated Usage | |
Ending with "distinctive": class-distinctive, non-distinctive. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Language | Translations for "distinctive"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Albanian | dallues (discerning, discriminative, outgoing), karakteristik (characteristic, exemplary, peculiar), i veçantë (characteristic, detached, discrete, distinct, especial, exceptional, exclusive, extra, extra special, individual, odd, of one's own, off, particular, particularized, peculiar, pet, queer, racy, rare, separate, single, sole, special, specific, uncommon), i dallueshëm (discernible, discrete, distinct, distinguishable, evident, observable, obvious, visible, well-marked). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Arabic | مميز (characteristic, diacritical, differential, discerning, discriminative, discriminatory, distinguishing, judicial, peculiar, perceptive, percipient, special, specific). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bulgarian | характерен (idiosyncratic, proper, racy, representative, specific), отличителен (differential, discriminating, discriminative, discriminatory, outstanding, racy). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese | 特别 (Especial, Particularly, special). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Czech | zřetelný (articulate, audible, broad, clear, conspicuous, distinct, marked, obvious, perspicuous, plain, pronounced), výrazný (bold, broad, decided, distinct, expressible, expressive, full-faced, marked, pronounced, significant), typický (archetypal, classic, peculiar, quintessential, representative, standard, typical), rozlišovací (differential, distinguishing), rázovitý (idiosyncratic), osobitý, individuální (individual, one off, one-to-one). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Danish | distinktive ventetoner (distinctive waiting tones), distinctive signal (distinctive signal), de stoerre terrestriske biocoenoser udviser distinkte egenskaber (distinctive features, the major terrestrial communities possess clearcut), varemærkets distinktive element (distinctive feature of the mark), varemærket mangler fornødent særpræg (not distinctive trade mark), under hensyntagen til transportspoergsmaalenes saerlige karakter (taking into account the distinctive features of transport), saerligt maerke (distinctive markings, distinctive marks), medføre en utilbørlig udnyttelse af det varemærkes særpræg (to take unfair advantage of the distinctive character of the trade mark), kendetegn (characteristic, distinctive mark), hvis mærket som følge af den brug,der er gjort deraf,har fået fornødent særpræg (to become distinctive in consequence of the use which has been made of it), forsyne med tydelig markering (to apply a distinctive mark), bortfald af karakteristiske kendetegn (distinctive features alteration, distinctive marks disappearance), ændring af særpræg (distinctive features alteration, distinctive marks disappearance). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dutch | zich onderscheidend, karakteristiek (characteristic). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Esperanto | distingiĝa, distinga. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Finnish | tuntomerkki (distinctive mark, landmark, mark of identification), tunnusomainen signaali (distinctive signal), tunnusmerkki (characteristic, distinctive feature, mark, sign), odottavan puhelun tyypistä riippuvat merkkiäänet (distinctive waiting tones), franchising-systeemille tyypillisten tunnuspiirteiden katoaminen (distinctive features alteration, distinctive marks disappearance). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
French | distinctif (differencing, discriminating, discriminatingly), spécial. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German | ausgeprägt (bold, distinct, marked, particular, pronounced). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Greek | ξεχωριστόσ (distinct, outstanding, separate, special), διακριτικόσ (considerate, diacritical, discreet, discriminate, discriminative, discriminatory). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hebrew | מיוח" (especial, particular, peculiar, singular, special, specific), אפי י (characteristic, particular, symptomatic, typical). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hungarian | megkülönböztetõ (diacritic, diacritical, differential, discriminating, discriminative, discriminatory, distinguishing), megkülönböztető (discriminating, discriminative, discriminatory), jellegzetes (characteristic, marked, peculiar, proper, representative, specific, symptomatic, typical). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indonesian | khusus (special, specific, unique), bersifat membedakan. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Italian | distintivo (badge, button, discriminating, insignias). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Kanji | 截然 (steep). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Katakana | さいぜ" (foremost, the very best). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Korean | 특 한 (Peculiar). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malay | agung. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Manx | er lheh (aloof, aside, certain, fancy, isolated, patented, private and confidential, respective; privately, separate, separately, special, specially), anchasley (alien, different, dissimilar, distinct, diverse, variant, varied). (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Norwegian | særegen. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pig Latin | istinctiveday distinto (articulate, cleanly cut, clear, different, discrete, discriminate, discriminating, distinct, genteel, gentlemanly, grand, great, illustrious, neat, net, nice, noted, plain, precise, stylish, unlike, well-marked). (various references) distinctiv (characteristic, differential, discriminating, discriminative), deosebitor, specific (appropriate, individual, note, peculiar, proper, quiddity, singularity, specific, specifically), caracteristic (characteristic, discriminative, exemplary, peculiar, proper, representative, typical). (various references) самобытный (original), особый (exclusive, extra, particular, particularized, special, specific), отличительный (discriminating, discriminatory, distinguishing). (various references) svojstven (characteristic, original, typical), osoben (proper), karakterističan (characteristic, distinguished, typical). (various references) distintivo (badge, distinguishing, insignia, symbol). (various references) utpräglad, utmärkande (differential, distinguishing). (various references) kendine özgü (specific, typical), karakteristik (characteristic, characteristical, representative, significative, typical), belirgin (blazing, clear, clear-cut, distinct, evident, explicit, manifest, marked, prominent, pronounced, salient, sharp cut, thick, upfront), ayırıcı (diacritic, discriminating, disjunctive, selector, separator, sizer, sorter, trap), özgün (characteristic, genuine, individual, inventive, peculiar, typical, unique, way out), özel (ad hoc, closet, esoteric, especial, exclusive, express, extraordinary, individual, intimate, particular, peculiar, personal, private, privy, proper, proprietary, self, sole, special, specific, state, very). (various references) parhly, цzboluюly (original, peculiar). (various references) розпізнавальний, характерний (characteristic, definitive, differential, individual, racy, representative), відмінний (a, alien from, another, bang up, different, disparate, distinct, divergent, exquisite, nailing, nifty, perfect, swell, tidy, variant, way up). (various references) đặc biệt; để phân biệt. (various references) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "distinctive": distinctively, distinctiveness, distinctivenesses. (additional references) | |
Words ending with "distinctive": contradistinctive, indistinctive, nondistinctive. (additional references) | |
Words containing "distinctive": contradistinctively. (additional references) | |
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"Distinctive" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: disfinctive, distincive, distinctif, distinctived, distinctives, distingtive, distinti. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "distinctive" (pronounced di'sti"ngktiv) |
| 8 | -s t i" ng k t i v | instinctive. |
| 5 | -ng k t i v | injunctive. |
| 4 | -k t i v | active, addictive, adjective, affective, attractive, collective, conductive, connective, constructive, corrective, counterproductive, defective, destructive, detective, directive, effective, elective, hyperactive, inactive, ineffective, infective, instructive, interactive, introspective, invective, irrespective, nonproductive, objective, obstructive, octave, overactive, perspective, photoconductive, predictive, proactive, productive, projective, prospective, protective, radioactive, reactive, reconstructive, reflective, refractive, reproductive, respective, restrictive, retroactive, retrospective, seductive, selective, subjective, superconductive, unattractive, unproductive, vindictive. |
| 3 | -t i v | abortive, accommodative, accumulative, accusative, acquisitive, adaptive, additive, administrative, adoptive, affirmative, alliterative, alternative, anticompetitive, appointive, appreciative, argumentative, assaultive, assertive, attentive, authoritative, automotive, captive, causative, cognitive, collaborative, combative, commemorative, communicative, comparative, competitive, congestive, consecutive, conservative, consultative, contemplative, contraceptive, cooperative, corruptive, creative, cumulative, curative, deceptive, decorative, definitive, degenerative, deliberative, demonstrative, derivative, descriptive, digestive, dilutive, diminutive, disincentive, disparages, dispositive, disruptive, dissipative, distributive, duplicative, elucidative, eruptive, evocative, executive, exhaustive, expletive, exploitative, exploitive, facultative, Federative, festive, figurative, fixative, formative, fugitive, furtive, generative, hypersensitive, illustrative, imaginative, imitative, imperative, inattentive, incentive, indicative, infinitive, informative, initiative, innovative, inoperative, inquisitive, insensitive, interpretive, intuitive, inventive, investigative, iterative, laxative, legislative, locomotive, lucrative, manipulative, meditative, motive, narrative, native, negative, neoconservative, nonautomotive, noncompetitive, noncumulative, nonexecutive, nonnative, normative, nutritive, operative, palliative, participative, pejorative, perceptive, plaintive, positive, preemptive, prerogative, preservative, presumptive, preventative, preventive, primitive, probative, prognosticative, prohibitive, provocative, punitive, putative, qualitative, quantitative, receptive, recuperative, redemptive, redistributive, regulative, rehabilitative, relative, remunerative, rep, repetitive, representative, restive, restorative, secretive, sedative, sensitive, speculative, stimulative, substantive, suggestive, superlative, supportive, talkative, tentative, ultraconservative, uncompetitive, uncooperative, unimaginative, uninformative, unreceptive, unrepresentative, vegetative, vituperative. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "c-d-e-i-i-i-n-s-t-t-v" | |
-2 letters: disinvite. | |
-3 letters: dictiest, distinct, divinest, divinise, incisive, inviscid. | |
-4 letters: deistic, dentist, diciest, distent, ditties, divines, identic, incised, incited, incites, indices, indicts, indites, invited, invites, stinted, tidiest, tincted, tineids, tiniest, viniest, visited. | |
-5 letters: citied, cities, civets, civies, divest, divine, edicts, evicts, iciest, incest, incise, incite, indict, indies, indite, insect, inside, invest, invite, nicest, seniti, sitten. | |
| Words containing the letters "c-d-e-i-i-i-n-s-t-t-v" | |
+2 letters: distinctively, indistinctive. | |
+3 letters: conductivities, nondistinctive. | |
+4 letters: distinctiveness, underactivities. | |
+5 letters: devitrifications. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
Hexadecimal (or equivalents, 770AD-1900s) (references)44 69 73 74 69 6E 63 74 69 76 65 |
| Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519; backwards) (references)
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| American Sign Language (origins from 1620-1817 in Italy and, especially, France) (references)
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| Semaphore (1791, in France) (references)
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| Braille (1829, in France) (references)
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Morse Code (1836) (references)-.. .. ... - .. -. -.-. - .. ...- . |
| Dancing Men (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1903) (references)
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Binary Code (1918-1938, probably earlier) (references)01000100 01101001 01110011 01110100 01101001 01101110 01100011 01110100 01101001 01110110 01100101 |
HTML Code (1990) (references)D i s t i n c t i v e |
ISO 10646 (1991-1993) (references)0044 0069 0073 0074 0069 006E 0063 0074 0069 0076 0065 |
| British Sign Language (Fingerspelling, BSL; 1992, British Deaf Association Dictionary of British Sign Language) (references)
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Encryption (beginner's substitution cypher): (references)3875858675806986758871 |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Images: Photo Album 6. Sounds 7. Quotations: Familiar 8. Quotations: Historic | 9. Quotations: Non-fiction 10. Usage Frequency 11. Expressions 12. Expressions: Internet | 13. Translations: Modern 14. Derivations 15. Rhymes 16. Anagrams | 17. Orthography 18. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
