prescriptive

adjective

pre·​scrip·​tive pri-ˈskrip-tiv 

1

: serving to prescribe

prescriptive rules of usage

2

: acquired by, founded on, or determined by prescription or by long-standing custom

prescriptively adverb

Synonyms of prescriptive

• traditional
• customary
• conventional

Examples of prescriptive in a Sentence

Critics claim the new rules are too prescriptive.

even in this age of e-mail the prescriptive response to a wedding gift is a handwritten thank-you note

Recent Examples on the Web

Machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision and predictive and prescriptive analytics have been part of software for years. — Paul Lachance, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

And, Ribera says, the framework may eventually serve as the basis for more prescriptive future regulation. — Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026

Placement with these doesn’t need to be prescriptive, either. — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 28 Sep. 2026

Most books on strength are prescriptive arguments for programs of self-improvement. — Michael Joseph Gross, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prescriptive

• ascriptive
• descriptive

Legal Definition

prescriptive

adjective

pre·​scrip·​tive pri-ˈskrip-tiv 

1

: serving to prescribe

prescriptive rules

2

: acquired by, founded on, or constituting prescription

a prescriptive right

a longer prescriptive period