illustrative

adjective

il·​lus·​tra·​tive i-ˈlə-strə-tiv 

also

ˈi-lə-ˌstrā- 

: serving, tending, or designed to illustrate

illustrative examples

art that is illustrative of provincial life

illustratively adverb

Synonyms

• elucidative
• exegetical
• exegetic
• explanative
• explanatory
• explicative
• explicatory
• expositive
• expository
• illuminative
• interpretative
• interpretive

Examples of illustrative in a Sentence

an illustrative analogy in which the relationship between God and humanity is likened to that between a shepherd and his flock

Recent Examples on the Web

The couple’s views were illustrative of broader trends. —Jazmine Ulloa, New York Times, 11 June 2024

This experience, though enabled by the exceptional circumstance of a global pandemic, is still illustrative of the power of sharing. —Rachel Ventresca, Fortune, 7 June 2024

Its 2015 Yemen intervention has provided an illustrative snapshot of how the UAE’s interventions can play out. —Neil Quilliam, Foreign Affairs, 29 Dec. 2023

The recent election in Senegal provides a telling, illustrative example, as Bloomberg reports. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 14 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1643, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

illustrative

adjective

il·​lus·​tra·​tive il-ˈəs-trət-iv 

: serving or meant to illustrate

illustrative examples