discursive

UK: /dɪˈskɜː^rsɪv/ US: /dɪˈskɝsɪv/ ,(di skûr′siv)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•cur•sive /dɪˈskɜrsɪv/   adj. 

1. passing from one subject to another;
   rambling:
   a discursive writing style.

See -cur-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•cur•sive  (di skûr′siv), adj. 

1. passing aimlessly from one subject to another;
   digressive;
   rambling.
2. proceeding by reasoning or argument rather than intuition.

• Medieval Latin discursīvus. See discourse, -ive
• 1590–1600

dis•cur′sive•ly, adv. 
dis•cur′sive•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. wandering, long-winded, prolix.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

discursive / dɪˈskɜːsɪv/ adjective

1. passing from one topic to another, usually in an unmethodical way; digressive
2. of or relating to knowledge obtained by reason and argument rather than intuition

Etymology: 16th Century: from Medieval Latin discursīvus, from Late Latin discursus discourse

disˈcursively adverb

disˈcursiveness noun