Decorative
adj.joyful, thoughtfulprofessional
What it means
Designed chiefly to add beauty or visual interest.
Reach for it when identifying an attractive feature whose main purpose is appearance
A decorative screen softened the view of the storage area.
Choose between these
6- playful
when current taste makes the feature appealing
not when Stylish objects can be functional, and decorative pieces can be intentionally traditional.
- everyday
patterned
when repeated shapes or colors create the visual interest
not when Patterned names one treatment and excludes plain sculptures or trim that are still decorative.
- warm
when imagination and creative expression deserve credit
not when A mass-produced border may be decorative without showing notable artistry.
- professional
when an image of landscape or setting is the ornament
not when Scenic is too specific for geometric, floral, or abstract decoration.
- formal
when beauty rather than practical function is explicit
not when Ornamental can suggest needless excess when the feature also performs useful work.
- literary
embellishing
when the feature adds richness to an existing design
not when It describes the action of enhancement less naturally than a stable design category.
Said against
3- functional
- plain
- utilitarian
It naturally appears in
3- decorative border
A decorative border separates the recipe from the family notes.
- decorative feature
The carved vent is both a practical and decorative feature.
- decorative object
One decorative object gives the quiet shelf a focal point.
Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English adjective, sense 1: serving to decorate opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.