descriptivist

[ dih-skrip-tuh-vist ]
/ dɪˈskrɪp tə vɪst /

noun

a writer, teacher, or supporter of descriptive grammar or descriptive linguistics.

adjective

of, relating to, or based on descriptive grammar or descriptive linguistics.

Origin of descriptivist

First recorded in 1950–55; descriptive + -ist

OTHER WORDS FROM descriptivist

de·scrip·tiv·ism, noun

Words nearby descriptivist

descriptive linguistics, descriptive metaphysics, descriptive notation, descriptive statistics, descriptivism, descriptivist, descriptor, descry, desdemona, desecrate, deseed

Example sentences from the Web for descriptivism

  • And descriptivism may be the last refuge of the linguistic conservative after the former mistake has become the current rule.

    Busted by The Language Cops |David Frum |April 30, 2012 |DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for descriptivism

descriptivism
/ (dɪˈskrɪptɪˌvɪzəm) /

noun

ethics the theory that moral utterances have a truth value Compare prescriptivism, emotivism

Derived forms of descriptivism

descriptivist, adjective