Meaning & use
distinctive culture
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Meaning
nouncountable
The special way of life, customs, and beliefs that make a group different from others.
Grammar: Countable when talking about one group's culture; can be plural: distinctive cultures.
Patterns
- a distinctive culture
- have a distinctive culture
- the distinctive culture of a place
The island has a distinctive culture shaped by its history of fishing.
Each region in the country has its own distinctive culture and food.
Their distinctive culture sets them apart from neighboring communities.
Word forms
| plural | distinctive cultures |
|---|
Common combinations
- have a distinctive culture
- The tribe has a distinctive culture that has survived for centuries.
- a distinctive culture of
- The city is known for its distinctive culture of street music.
- a distinctive culture shaped by
- They have a distinctive culture shaped by their mountain environment.
- maintain a distinctive culture
- The community works hard to maintain its distinctive culture.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unique culture
- Similar, but 'unique' means the only one of its kind, while 'distinctive' means clearly different and easy to notice.
- characteristic culture
- Less common; 'characteristic' emphasizes typical features, not difference.
Word family
- distinctively adverb
- In a way that is easy to recognize as different.
- distinctiveness noun
- The quality of being easy to recognize as different.
Commonly confused: distinctive culture or distinct culture?
distinctive culture vs distinct culture
'Distinct' means separate and clearly different, while 'distinctive' means standing out as a special feature.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'distinctive culture' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'a distinctive culture of + noun/gerund' is correct. The other options use wrong prepositions or omit the preposition needed before the noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “distinctive culture”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.