nondescriptive

Nondescriptive is an adjective that denotes the absence of descriptive content. When a label, term, or statement is described as nondescriptive, it provides little or no information about the properties, characteristics, or identity of the referent. It is distinct from descriptive terms, which convey specific attributes or classifications. The word is formed from the prefix non- joined to descriptive, which itself derives from Latin describere via French or English development.

Usage and scope: The term is rare in everyday English but appears in technical writing within information science, data annotation, database design, and semantics. In such contexts, items may be categorized as nondescriptive when a label or field does not carry attribute values beyond categorical identity. For example, a database field named "item" or "record" can be considered nondescriptive if it does not encode properties like color, size, or type. The term is often contrasted with descriptive labels that encode attributes.

Relation to nondescript: Nondescriptive is not the same as nondescript. Nondescriptive is about lack of descriptive content; nondescript means lacking distinctive characteristics or memorable features.

Limitations: The usage is specialized; outside of technical contexts, speakers may use "nondescriptive" to signal incomplete or non-specific description, but alternatives like "non-descriptive" or "not descriptive" are also possible.

See also: Descriptive vs non-descriptive, Nondescript, Data annotation, Labeling.