ostensive

Ostensive is an adjective used to describe methods or demonstrations that convey meaning by showing rather than by stating explicit definitions. It derives from the Latin ostensus, the past participle of ostendere, “to show,” and entered philosophical and linguistic usage to distinguish demonstrative explanation from descriptive or stipulative definitions.

In philosophy of language and semantics, an ostensive definition conveys the meaning of a term by pointing to examples or instances of what the term denotes. For example, defining “red” ostensively by pointing to red objects while labeling their color. Ostension is the related noun form that captures the act or method of showing something to convey meaning. This approach is educationally important in language teaching and cognitive science, where learners acquire terms through demonstrations, pointing, or direct illustration.

Ostensive is sometimes used more broadly to mean demonstrative or showy, though this sense is less common in technical discussions. In such contexts, it is often treated as distinct from ostentatious, which describes outward display or pretentiousness rather than a method of conveying meaning through demonstration.

See also ostension, ostensive definition, ostentatious.