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Demonstrative

serving to indicate or point out something; in grammar, relating to how words like this, that, these, and those modify or replace nouns; also used to describe a person who openly expresses emotions

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a teacher at the front of the room. She holds up three objects and points to each one saying, 'This, that, these'—each pointing gesture demonstrates exactly which item she means.

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Sounds Like

/ˌdɛmənˈstreɪtɪv/

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Looks Like

this, that, these, those (demonstrative determiners/pronouns) and the concept of pointing or showing

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Remember This

Derived from the idea of demonstration—showing or pointing out. It also connects to the nouns 'demonstration' and the verb 'demonstrate.'

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Other Forms

demonstrativenessnoun

demonstrativelyadverb

demonstrative determinernoun

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Connect With

demonstrate, demonstration, demonstrative pronoun, demonstrative adjective, this, that, these, those, pointing, indication

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Note

As an adjective, it precedes a noun (a demonstrative adjective) or stands with a linking verb when used as a predicate adjective. When used as a noun, it can refer to a demonstrative determiner or pronoun (e.g., 'these' or 'that'). Distinguish from 'demonstrate' (verb) and 'demonstration' (noun).

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Study Deeper

Examples

The teacher's demonstrative gesture helped the students understand which region they were discussing.
In grammar, the words this, that, these, and those are called demonstratives.

Synonyms

indicativeillustrativeexplicitrevealingpointing

Antonyms

indirectunrevealingstoic

Etymology

From Latin demonstrativus 'showing, pointing out' from demonstrare 'to point out, show'.

Mnemonic

DEMO-onstrative: a 'demo' in class where you point things out to show exactly what you mean; a demonstrative word literally demonstrates.