The word "designative" is an adjective. It means something that serves to designate or point out something specific. When something is described as designative, it is intended to name or identify a particular person, thing, or idea.
In more complex discussions, you might find "designative" used in fields like linguistics or philosophy, where it can refer to terms that specifically point to particular concepts or entities.
The word "designative" is quite specific, so it does not have many different meanings. However, it is closely related to the act of naming or labeling, which can sometimes overlap with terms like "descriptive" (which provides details about something).
There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs that use "designative," but you might see phrases like "in name only," which refers to something that is designated by name but may not fulfill that role in practice.
"Designative" is a formal word used to describe something that serves to identify or name something clearly.