demonstrative

UK: /dɪˈmɒnstrətɪv/ US: /dəˈmɑnstrətɪv/ ,(də mon′strə tiv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•mon•stra•tive /dəˈmɑnstrətɪv/   adj. 

1. showing openly one's emotions:
   a demonstrative parent.
2. Grammar indicating or singling out the thing referred to:
   The word this is a demonstrative pronoun and adjective.

n. [countable]

3. Grammar a demonstrative word, as this or
   there.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•mon•stra•tive  (də mon′strə tiv), adj. 

1. characterized by or given to open exhibition or expression of one's emotions, attitudes, etc., esp. of love or affection:
   She wished her fiancé were more demonstrative.
2. serving to demonstrate;
   explanatory or illustrative.
3. serving to prove the truth of anything;
   indubitably conclusive.
4. Grammar indicating or singling out the thing referred to. This is a demonstrative pronoun.

n. 

5. Grammar a demonstrative word, as this or there.

• Latin dēmonstrātīvus, equivalent. to dēmonstrāt(us) (see demonstrate) + -īvus -ive
• Middle French)
• Middle English demonstratif (1350–1400

de•mon′stra•tive•ly, adv. 
de•mon′stra•tive•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

demonstrative / dɪˈmɒnstrətɪv/ adjective

1. tending to manifest or express one's feelings easily or unreservedly
2. (postpositive) followed by of: serving as proof; indicative
3. involving or characterized by demonstration
4. conclusive; indubitable
5. denoting or belonging to a class of determiners used to point out the individual referent or referents intended, such as this, that, these, and those
   Compare interrogative, relative

noun

1. a demonstrative word or construction

deˈmonstratively adverb

deˈmonstrativeness noun