informative

informative — adjective

1. full of useful facts or details that teach you something you want or need to kno

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

full of useful facts or details that teach you something you want or need to know

Example

Anjali found the museum tour very informative and learned many new facts about ancient Egypt.

informative + about [topic]

The doctor gave Rania an informative booklet about managing her blood pressure.

attributive use: informative + noun (booklet)

Common collocations
  • highly informative
  • very informative
  • extremely informative
  • informative talk
  • informative article
  • informative book
  • informative guide
  • informative session
Synonyms
  • educational

    focuses on the learning outcome; 'informative' stresses the amount of useful detail, while 'educational' stresses the learning or training value

  • instructive

    slightly more formal, emphasises step-by-step guidance or teaching; 'informative' is broader and more common in everyday use

  • enlightening

    stronger — suggests the information opened your eyes or changed your understanding, not just added facts

Antonyms
  • uninformative

    direct opposite — giving very few or no useful details

Grammar Patterns

informative + noun

be + informative

Usage Note

Typically used to describe things such as talks, articles, books, tours, or documentaries. Describing a person directly as 'informative' is possible but less common — their explanation or talk is usually the subject.

Common Mistakes

I read an informative.
I read an informative article.
'informative' is an adjective and must modify a noun, not stand alone as one.
The teacher was informative about math.
The teacher's explanation of math was informative.
it sounds more natural to describe what the person produces rather than the person directly.

Word family

  • information
    nounA2
  • inform
    verbB1
  • informatively
    adverbB2
  • uninformed
    adjectiveB2
  • informant
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that adds knowledge, but they differ in focus. 'Informative' (B1) is the broadest and most neutral — it simply means something is packed with useful facts or details. 'Educational' (B1) goes a step further: it implies the content is designed to teach or train, often in a formal or structured way. 'Instructive' (B2) is slightly more formal and suggests clear, step-by-step guidance on how to do something. 'Enlightening' (C1) is the strongest — it means the information gave you a completely new understanding or made something suddenly clear. For everyday use, 'informative' is your safest choice: 'The talk was informative.' For a classroom setting, 'educational' fits better: 'The game is both fun and educational.' For a 'how-to' video, 'instructive' works well. And for a book that changed your worldview, use 'enlightening'.

informative ↗educational ↗instructive ↗enlightening

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • packed with information
  • full of useful facts

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from Latin 'informativus', built from 'informare' (to shape, form, or instruct). The root 'in-' (into) + 'forma' (form) originally meant 'to give shape to the mind' — teaching by forming ideas. English borrowed it through French 'informatif' in the 1600s.