informational
Meaning
Relating to or characterized by facts or knowledge; providing information.
(of a style, document, or system) Designed to convey useful facts rather than to entertain or persuade.
Structure
Usage
The website serves a purely informational purpose and does not process transactions.
She gave an informational talk about the company's environmental policies.
This brochure is more informational than promotional.
Etymology
The word 'informational' is a modern English formation built upon the well-established noun 'information.' Its journey begins with the Latin verb informare, meaning "to shape or instruct," which itself is composed of in- (into) and forma (form, shape). The suffix -ation was added to create the noun 'information,' denoting the result or content of the act of informing. Finally, the adjectival suffix -al was appended, a common practice in English to create adjectives from nouns, resulting in a term that describes anything pertaining to or serving to provide information. This logical, layered construction exemplifies how English builds precise terminology by combining classical roots with productive suffixes.
Analysis
- inform (Latin): From Latin informare meaning "to shape, give form to, train, instruct." In this word, it functions as the core root conveying the concept of knowledge or data. - ation (Latin): A noun-forming suffix of Latin origin (-ationem), used to create abstract nouns from verbs, here turning the action of informing into the concept of "information." - al (Latin): An adjectival suffix of Latin origin (-alis), used to form adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by" the noun it attaches to.