: a word or morpheme pointing out the one referred to and distinguishing it from others of the same class : a demonstrative (see demonstrativeentry 1 sense 2) word or morpheme
the demonstratives "this," "that," "these," and "those"
Adjective In the phrase “this is my hat,” the word “this” is a demonstrative pronoun. In the phrase “give me that book,” the word “that” is a demonstrative adjective.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
But nothing beat the 200 meters for drama, with Noah Lyles and all his demonstrative, crowd-pumping glory besting stoic teenager Erriyon Knighton, who at 18 is one of the sport’s rising stars. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2022 And Even Laster: Empressement (ahm-press-MONT), demonstrative warmth or cordiality. Pat Myers, Washington Post, 21 July 2022 The rage feels justifiably intense, but the play suffers from its demonstrative excess: The audience gets the drift all too soon. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 20 May 2022 Society has to be on the up and up that AI is going to have a demonstrative impact on societal power dynamics. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 22 May 2022 During arguments, Breyer is often demonstrative, waving his arms for emphasis. John Fritze, USA TODAY, 27 Apr. 2022 My parents just weren’t demonstrative in that fashion. Richard Webner, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Apr. 2022 Thibodeau’s complaining to the referees is typically loud and demonstrative. Stefan Bondy, courant.com, 6 Mar. 2022 To put a measure on it: maybe 5% less demonstrative than in the salad days, because girls will be women, but just as engaging, and seemingly engaged. Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Mar. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English demonstratyf "based on logic, pointing out (of a pronoun)," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French demonstratif, borrowed from Late Latin dēmonstrātīvus "pointing out (of a pronoun), able to prove" (Latin, "displaying—in rhetoric"), from Latin dēmonstrātus, past participle of dēmonstrāre "to indicate, show, demonstrate" + -īvus-ive
Noun
Middle English demonstratyf, borrowed from Late Latin dēmonstrātīvum, noun derivative from neuter of dēmonstrātīvusdemonstrative entry 1