Nondescriptive

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Lacking distinctive or defining characteristics that make something recognizable or distinct from others in appearance or nature
2. Not providing clear or vivid details that would set an object or idea apart, thereby rendering it vague and generic
3. Characterized by a failure to convey specific attributes or qualities, resulting in a bland or uninspiring representation of something

Etymology: "Nondescriptive" is a plain compound: the prefix "non-", meaning "not" or "lacking", attached to "descriptive," which comes from the Late Latin "descriptivus," derived from "describere," to describe. Put together, the word means "not descriptive," and in its current sense it refers to something that offers no distinguishing marks, so that it cannot easily be picked out or characterized. The "non-" prefix is itself an English borrowing from Latin "non," meaning "not," and it has been used freely to form negative compounds, so that many such words are made on the spot rather than inherited. "Nondescriptive" follows this pattern. Its meaning follows from its parts, with little drift from the base word.

Synonyms: unremarkable, unspecialized

Antonyms: descriptive, specific