instructional
gb/ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənəl/ us/ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənəl/
B2
English
~ 6400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
C1
property
1
relating to teaching or instruction
Connected with teaching or giving lessons, especially in school or training classes.
Usage pattern:
instructional [materials/course/design/methods]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "instructional" with "instructive". "Instructional" is usually used before nouns in education contexts (instructional materials, instructional staff) and often sounds more formal and institutional. "Instructive" is more general and often describes something that teaches you a lesson or gives you insight (an instructive example).
Synonyms
educational (Very close in meaning; more general and more common in everyday use.)
|
pedagogical (More formal and academic; mainly used in professional education contexts.)
Antonyms
noneducational (Describes activities or materials not intended for teaching or learning.)
Collocations
instructional materials
|instructional design
|instructional strategies
|instructional time
|instructional staff
|instructional leadership
Themes
education
|learning
|work
|academia
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The district invested in new instructional materials for the science curriculum.
- She completed a degree in instructional design to create better online courses.
- The principal focused on improving instructional practices in every classroom.
- Instructional time was reduced this year because of frequent school closures.
- The workshop will cover effective instructional strategies for mixed-ability classes.
Learner examples
- The school bought new instructional materials for the students.
- He works as an instructional coach for math teachers.
- We talked about different instructional methods in the training course.
- Our instructional time in class is only forty minutes.
- She wants to study instructional design at university.
adjective
B2
property
2
explaining how to do something
Made to teach you how to do something in a clear, step-by-step way.
Usage pattern:
instructional [video/manual/guide/book]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "teaching video" or "learning video" instead of the more natural phrase "instructional video". They also sometimes prefer "instructive video"; while understandable, "instructional video" is the standard collocation for a how-to video.
Synonyms
instructive (Very similar, but "instructive" often means giving insight or a lesson, not only step-by-step how-to guidance.)
Antonyms
confusing (Describes explanations or materials that do not clearly show how to do something.)
Collocations
instructional video
|instructional manual
|instructional guide
|instructional booklet
|instructional DVD
|instructional website
Themes
learning
|daily life
|technology
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I watched an instructional video on how to fix a leaky faucet.
- The product comes with an instructional manual in four languages.
- She posted an instructional guide to help new users set up the software.
- These short instructional clips walk you through each exercise safely.
- He created an instructional booklet for parents on using the app.
Learner examples
- This instructional video shows you how to cook the dish.
- Please read the instructional manual before you use the machine.
- The website has many instructional guides for new players.
- I bought an instructional book to learn guitar.
- They made an instructional DVD for the new workers.
Grammar
Dictionary form
instructional
IPA
GB/ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənəl/
US/ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənəl/
Syllables & stress
in - struc - tion - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (struc)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: instructional
Word family
Core family
Related words
instructive
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
uninstructive
adjective
Advanced or less common
instructively
adverb
instructionally
adverb
Expressions
instructional design
1/ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənəl dɪzˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
technical
planning and designing learning experiences
The work of planning and creating courses, lessons, and materials so people can learn in an effective way, often using technology.
Examples
- She specializes in instructional design for online university courses.
- Good instructional design starts with clear learning goals.
- The company hired an instructional design team to update its training program.
instructional guide
1/ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənəl ɡˈaɪd/
fixed phrase
written guide explaining how to do something
A written text that helps you understand how to do something or use something.
Examples
- The website offers a free instructional guide for new users.
- We created an instructional guide to help volunteers follow the new procedures.
- This short instructional guide explains the main features of the app.
instructional manual
1/ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənəl mˈænjuəl/
fixed phrase
book with detailed instructions
A small book that tells you how to use or fix something, step by step.
Examples
- Always read the instructional manual before operating the machine.
- The instructional manual includes safety warnings and troubleshooting tips.
- He lost the instructional manual and could not set up the printer.
instructional materials
1/ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənəl mətˈɪɹiəlz/
fixed phrase
materials used for teaching
Books, worksheets, slides, and other things that teachers use to help students learn.
Examples
- The teacher prepared all the instructional materials before the semester began.
- Grant money was used to buy new instructional materials for the language program.
- Good instructional materials can make a difficult topic easier to understand.
instructional strategies
1/ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənəl stɹˈætəd͡ʒiz/
fixed phrase
technical
methods teachers use for instruction
Different ways that teachers choose to teach students, such as group work, lectures, or games.
Examples
- The workshop focused on instructional strategies for teaching reading.
- Teachers are encouraged to vary their instructional strategies to keep students engaged.
- She experimented with new instructional strategies to support visual learners.
instructional technology
1/ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənəl tɛknˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
technology used for teaching and learning
Computers, software, and other technology that help teachers teach and students learn.
Examples
- She is studying instructional technology at graduate school.
- The school invested heavily in instructional technology during the pandemic.
- Effective use of instructional technology can make lessons more interactive.
instructional video
1/ɪnstɹˈʌkʃənəl vˈɪdioʊ/
fixed phrase
video that teaches how to do something
A video made to teach you how to do something, usually by showing each step.
Examples
- She learned how to change a tire from an instructional video on YouTube.
- The company provides an instructional video to help customers install the software.
- We watched an instructional video before starting the lab activity.