Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: STAT-USA
Prescriptive: A prescriptive statement tells us how things should be, rather than how they actually are. It's like a set of rules or instructions that we should follow. For example, a prescriptive theory might tell us how people or things ought to work, rather than just describing how they currently do. This is different from a descriptive statement, which simply describes how things are without making any judgments about whether they are good or bad.
Prescriptive
A prescriptive statement tells you how things should be, rather than how they actually are. A prescriptive theory is one that explains how people or things ought to function.
These examples illustrate the definition of prescriptive because they both tell you how you should behave, rather than describing how you actually behave. They are prescribing a certain type of behavior that is considered desirable or appropriate.