If you use something as an illustrative example, or for illustrative purposes, you use it to show that what you are saying is true or to make your meaning clearer.
[formal]
A second illustrative example was taken from The Observer newspaper.
The following excerpt is illustrative of her interaction with students.
[Also + of]
Synonyms: representative, typical, descriptive, explanatory More Synonyms of illustrative
More Synonyms of illustrative
illustrative in American English
(ɪˈlʌstrətɪv; ˈɪləˌstreɪtɪv)
adjective
serving as an illustration or example
Derived forms
illustratively (ilˈlustratively)
adverb
Word origin
ML(Ec) illustrativus
Examples of 'illustrative' in a sentence
illustrative
The stories are for illustrative purposes only.
The Sun (2015)
It was a poor recognition of the distinctive qualities of her illustrative style.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The illustrative quotations printed represent only around half the examples that have been examined in the process of compiling the dictionary.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
The case is illustrative both of the sheer nastiness of this fraud and the fact that fraudsters frequently have links to other crime.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The Singapore example is illustrative of their application.
Tomlinson, Richard Urbanization in Post-Apartheid South Africa (1990)
Consider the following illustrative cases.
Christianity Today (2000)
This example is merely illustrative.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Could there be a more illustrative example of the Big Society in action?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Probably the most famous example of this, and also a good illustrative case, is the "green revolution" in agriculture.
Yearley, Steven Science, Technology, and Social Change (1988)
He was an outsized presence who, for illustrative example, took a visceral delight in hunting elephants and drinking the soup made from their trunks.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
1 (adjective)
The following excerpt is illustrative of her interaction with students.
Synonyms
representative
fairly representative groups of adults
typical
typical pastimes such as watching films and reading
descriptive
The group adopted a simpler, more descriptive title.
explanatory
The statements are accompanied by a series of explanatory notes.
interpretive
expository
A textbook relies heavily on an expository style of writing.
explicatory
illustrational
2 (adjective)
an illustrative guide to the daily activities of the football club
Synonyms
pictorial
a pictorial history of the Special Air Service
graphic
a graphic representation of how the chemical acts on the body
diagrammatic
delineative
Additional synonyms
in the sense of descriptive
Definition
describing something
The group adopted a simpler, more descriptive title.
Synonyms
graphic,
vivid,
expressive,
picturesque,
detailed,
explanatory,
pictorial,
illustrative,
depictive
in the sense of explanatory
Definition
serving or intended to serve as an explanation
The statements are accompanied by a series of explanatory notes.
Synonyms
descriptive,
interpretive,
illustrative,
interpretative,
demonstrative,
justifying,
expository,
illuminative,
elucidatory,
explicative
in the sense of expository
Definition
explanatory
A textbook relies heavily on an expository style of writing.