Pronunciation: [pɹəvˈɒkətˌɪv] (IPA) 
The word "provocative" is spelled with the letter "o" after the letter "v", which can be confusing for learners. Its IPA phonetic transcription is /prəˈvɑkətɪv/, where the ɑ symbol represents the "ah" sound like in "father". The "i" in "tive" is pronounced as "ih", like in "in". In English, using the "o" after "v" is a common pattern in words like "innovative", "representative" and "evocative".
Provocative is an adjective that describes something that is intended to cause a strong, stirring reaction or provoke an emotional response in others. It suggests an intention to incite, stimulate, or arouse a response typically related to thought, emotion, or behavior. A provocative statement, action, or behavior is designed to challenge conventional ideas, inspire debate, or generate controversy.
In a social context, something that is provocative often attracts attention due to its ability to arouse strong feelings or stir controversial discussions. It may elicit strong emotions such as anger, excitement, curiosity, or even inspiration. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, provocative acts or statements can disrupt the status quo, sometimes shaking up long-held beliefs or values.
In artistic undertakings, the term refers to work that is designed to challenge established norms, provoke thought, or elicit intense emotional responses. Provocative art may shock, disturb, or even offend certain individuals due to its unconventional or controversial nature.
Moreover, provocative can also describe an individual's behavior or appearance, particularly when they purposefully draw attention, often in a sexual or seductive manner. In this sense, someone who dresses or acts provocatively aims to attract notice or create sexual tension.
However, it is important to note that while provocative means to stimulate a reaction, it does not imply any judgment on the value or merit of the stimulus itself. What is considered provocative can vary greatly depending on cultural, social, and personal contexts.
• Tending to awaken or excite; stimulating.
• A stimulant; anything which revives or excites appetite.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "provocative" has its origins in the Latin word "provoceare", which is a combination of "pro" (meaning "forth, forward") and "vocare" (meaning "to call"). "Provoceare" in Latin carried the sense of "to challenge, to call forth, to incite, to stimulate, to provoke". The word eventually made its way into Middle English as "provocatyf" in the 15th century, and later evolved into "provocative" in modern English.
