Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913 Instructive /ĭnˌ-strŭk'-tĭv/ · In·struct·ive · IPA /ɪnˈstɹʌktɪv/ 01 a. Conveying knowledge; serving to instruct or inform; as, experience furnishes very instructive lessons. 1. Conveying knowledge; serving to instruct or inform; as, experience furnishes very instructive lessons. “In various talk the instructive hours they past.” — Pope. “The pregnant instructiveness of the Scripture.” — Boyle.