distinctive
clearly different and recognizable
Easy to see as different from other things, so that you can recognize it quickly.
[something] has a distinctive [feature/quality/style]
- The restaurant is known for its distinctive red-and-black interior.
- Her distinctive voice made her easy to recognize on the radio.
- The designer has a very distinctive style that sets him apart from others.
- The village has a distinctive character, with narrow streets and old stone houses.
- This cheese has a strong, distinctive flavor that not everyone enjoys.
- He has a very distinctive laugh.
- The hotel has a distinctive blue door.
- Her painting has a distinctive style.
- That bird has a distinctive song.
- The company logo is simple but distinctive.
marking contrast in linguistics
In linguistics, describing a sound or feature that changes the meaning of a word when it is different.
a distinctive [feature/sound/contrast] in [phonology]
- In this language, vowel length is a distinctive feature that changes word meaning.
- The study examines which consonant clusters are distinctive in the local dialect.
- Stress is not distinctive in this language, so shifting the stress does not create a new word.
- In English, the sounds /p/ and /b/ are distinctive.
- For this language, tone is a distinctive feature.
- The teacher explained that some sound differences are not distinctive.
- Base: distinctive
distinctive character
1overall clearly different quality
A general feeling or quality that makes a place, person, or thing easy to see as different from others.
- The old town has a very distinctive character.
- Modern furniture can still have a warm and distinctive character.
distinctive feature
1noticeable quality that stands out
A special part or quality of something that makes it easy to see as different from other things.
- A distinctive feature of the city is its colorful street art.
- The building's glass tower is its most distinctive feature.
distinctive flavor
1clearly recognizable taste
A special taste that makes a food or drink easy to know and different from others.
- The herbs give the soup a distinctive flavor.
- This cheese has a sharp, distinctive flavor.
distinctive style
1clearly recognizable way of doing something
A way of writing, drawing, speaking, or doing something that is easy to recognize as belonging to one person or group.
- The director is famous for his distinctive style of filmmaking.
- The artist's distinctive style makes her paintings easy to recognize.
distinctive voice
1easily recognizable way of speaking
A special sound or way of speaking that makes it easy to know who is talking or singing.
- The actor has a deep, distinctive voice.
- Radio hosts need a clear and distinctive voice.