distinctive
adjective
dis·tinc·tive
di-ˈstiŋ(k)-tiv 
1
a
: marking as separate or different : serving to distinguish
the distinctive flight of the crane
b
: having or giving an uncommon and appealing quality : having or giving style or distinction
a distinctive table setting
a writer with a distinctive prose style
2
linguistics
: capable of making a segment of utterance different in meaning as well as in sound from an otherwise identical utterance
distinctively
adverb
distinctiveness
noun
Examples of distinctive in a Sentence
He had a very distinctive walk.
This wine has a more distinctive flavor than that one.
The store sells only the most distinctive chocolates.
Recent Examples on the Web
The result was the emergence of a distinctive national cinema that speaks both to universal human experiences and to specifically Korean concerns.
—
Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
And in order to do that, based on what clear, distinctive competence?
—Big Think, 28 Jan. 2026
Getty Images Southwest Airlines officially ended its 50-year open seating policy on Tuesday, and with it, the last vestige of what made the airline psychologically distinctive in the minds of customers.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The design is cute – and distinctive.
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinctive
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
And in order to do that, based on what clear, distinctive competence?
—Big Think, 28 Jan. 2026
Getty Images Southwest Airlines officially ended its 50-year open seating policy on Tuesday, and with it, the last vestige of what made the airline psychologically distinctive in the minds of customers.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The design is cute – and distinctive.
—New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinctive
Cite this Entry
“Distinctive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distinctive. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distinctive
adjective
dis·tinc·tive
dis-ˈtiŋ(k)-tiv
1
: clearly marking a person or a thing as different from others
a distinctive walk
2
: having or giving a special look or way
distinctive clothes
distinctively
adverb
distinctiveness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
