instructive

C2+ Topic:Education & Learning

US /ɪnˈstrʌktɪv/ UK /ɪnˈstrʌktɪv/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
useful in providing knowledge or information; enlightening

The failure proved instructive for future expeditions.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · useful in providing... informativeenlighteningeducational illuminating edifying didactic

Opposites

uninformativemisleading

Word family

Forms uninstructive

Derived forms instructivelyinstructiveness

Related forms instruct instruction instructor structure

Etymology

From instruct (from Latin instruere 'to build, arrange, teach', from in- 'on' + struere 'to pile up, build') + the adjective suffix -ive.

in- Latin struere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Education & Learning Word Formation & Derivatives

# instructive

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ɪnˈstrʌktɪv
**IPA (UK):** ɪnˈstrʌktɪv

## Meanings
1. useful in providing knowledge or information; enlightening

## Examples
- The failure proved instructive for future expeditions.

## Synonyms
- informative
- enlightening
- educational
- illuminating
- edifying
- didactic

## Antonyms
- uninformative
- misleading

## Derived Forms
- instructively
- instructiveness

## Related Forms
- instruct
- instruction
- instructor
- structure

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: in-
- Root: struere

## Etymology
From instruct (from Latin instruere 'to build, arrange, teach', from in- 'on' + struere 'to pile up, build') + the adjective suffix -ive.

## AI Etymology
Instructive comes from instruct (from Latin instruere 'to build, arrange, teach', from in- 'on' + struere 'to pile up, build') + the adjective suffix -ive. The suffix is part of the word's derivational shape, marking the final grammatical or semantic role while the base supplies the central meaning. As an adjective, it carries the sense "useful in providing knowledge or information; enlightening", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin in- and Latin struere. Derivative forms include instructively, instructiveness; related words include instruct, instruction, instructor, structure.

## Topics
- Education & Learning
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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