prescriptive
prescriptive Lexical Profile
prescriptive Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to the imposition or enforcement of a rule, method, or standard, especially in grammar and language usage.
"Traditional grammar textbooks often take a prescriptive approach, instructing students on how the language should ideally be written."
Established by or arising from long-standing custom, continuous use, or legal prescription.
"The villagers claimed a prescriptive right to cross the private meadow because the footpath had been used continuously for generations."
Word Nuance & Usage
In linguistics and social sciences, 'prescriptive' (setting rules for how things ought to be done) is strictly contrasted with 'descriptive' (observing and recording how things are actually done without judgment).
• Rhymes for prescriptive
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin praescriptivus, from Latin praescriptus, the past participle of praescribere ('to direct or order beforehand'), formed from prae- ('before') and scribere ('to write').