Meaning & use
designative
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounformalspecialist
Serving to identify or name a particular thing or group.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a designative label, designative terms. Not usually after a verb.
Patterns
- designative of something
In the report, 'high-risk' is a designative term used for certain loans.
The label is purely designative; it does not describe the quality of the product.
These designative categories help researchers sort the data.
adjectivebefore a nounformalspecialist
Acting as a sign or indication of something.
Grammar: Often followed by 'of': designative of a problem. This sense is close to 'indicative'.
Patterns
- designative of something
The rising temperature is designative of a larger climate shift.
His silence was designative of disagreement.
Such behavior is designative of deeper unhappiness.
Common combinations
- designative term
- The word 'chairperson' is a designative term that avoids gender.
- designative label
- The designative label on the jar simply said 'sample'.
- purely designative
- The name is purely designative and carries no judgment.
- designative of
- The symptoms are designative of a viral infection.
Synonyms and how they differ
- indicative
- More common in everyday and academic English; it suggests a sign of something, while 'designative' focuses on naming or labeling.
- denotative
- Used in linguistics for the direct, literal meaning of a word; 'designative' is broader and can refer to any identifying function.
- identifying
- A general word meaning 'showing who or what something is'; 'designative' is more formal and technical.
Word family
- designate verb
- To officially choose or name someone or something for a purpose.
- designation noun
- An official name, title, or description.
- designator noun
- A word or sign that identifies something.
Commonly confused: designative or designing? designative or designated?
designative vs designing
As an adjective, 'designing' means crafty or scheming, not 'serving to name'. They look similar but have very different meanings.
designative vs designated
This is the past participle of 'designate' and means 'officially chosen', as in 'a designated driver'. 'Designative' is about the function of naming, not about being chosen.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'designative' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Designative' is an adjective meaning 'serving to name or indicate', so it fits before 'of' in sentence 1. Sentence 2 uses it like a verb or adjective after 'was', which is wrong; sentence 3 confuses it with 'designated' (officially chosen); sentence 4 uses it as a verb, but the verb is 'designate'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “designative”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.