discursive

C2 Topic:Communication

US /dɪˈskɝsɪv/ UK /dɪˈskɜːsɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #157818

Meanings

1

adj
moving from subject to subject rather than following a concise, orderly line

The lecturer's discursive style carried the audience from history to politics and back.
2

adj
reaching conclusions through reasoned argument rather than intuition

The philosopher contrasted discursive reasoning with immediate insight.
3

adj
relating to discourse or the use of language in communication

The study examines the discursive practices of scientific communities.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · moving from subject to... ramblingdigressivemeandering

2 adj · reaching conclusions... reasoned analytical

3 adj · relating to discourse or... rhetorical linguistic

Opposites

concise focused intuitive

Word family

Derived forms discursivelydiscursivenessdiscursivitynondiscursive

Related forms discourse digression

Etymology

Via Middle French discursif and Medieval Latin discursivus from Latin discursus ("a running about; discourse"). The sense "rambling" preserves the image of running from point to point, while the philosophical sense concerns reasoning step by step.

Topics

Communication

External links

# discursive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈskɝsɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪˈskɜːsɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 157818

## Meanings
1. moving from subject to subject rather than following a concise, orderly line
2. reaching conclusions through reasoned argument rather than intuition
3. relating to discourse or the use of language in communication

## Examples
- The lecturer's discursive style carried the audience from history to politics and back.
- The philosopher contrasted discursive reasoning with immediate insight.
- The study examines the discursive practices of scientific communities.

## Synonyms
- digressive
- rambling
- meandering
- reasoned

## Antonyms
- concise
- focused
- intuitive

## Derived Forms
- discursively
- discursiveness
- discursivity
- nondiscursive

## Related Forms
- discourse
- digression

## Etymology
Via Middle French discursif and Medieval Latin discursivus from Latin discursus ("a running about; discourse"). The sense "rambling" preserves the image of running from point to point, while the philosophical sense concerns reasoning step by step.

## Topics
- Communication

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