character
the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.
one such feature or trait; characteristic.
moral or ethical quality: a man of fine, honorable character.
qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity: It takes character to face up to a bully.
reputation: a stain on one's character.
good repute.
an account of the qualities or peculiarities of a person or thing.
a person, especially with reference to behavior or personality: a suspicious character.
Informal. an odd, eccentric, or unusual person.
a person represented in a drama, story, etc.
a part or role, as in a play or film.
a symbol as used in a writing system, as a letter of the alphabet.
the symbols of a writing system collectively.
a significant visual mark or symbol.
status or capacity: the character of a justice of the peace.
a written statement from an employer concerning the qualities of a former employee.
Literature. (especially in 17th- and 18th-century England) a formal character sketch or descriptive analysis of a particular human virtue or vice as represented in a person or type.: Compare character sketch.
Genetics. any trait, function, structure, or substance of an organism resulting from the effect of one or more genes as modified by the environment.
Computers.
any symbol, as a number, letter, punctuation mark, etc., that represents data and that, when encoded, is usable by a machine.
one of a set of basic symbols that singly or in a series of two or more represents data and, when encoded, is usable in a computer.
a style of writing or printing.
Roman Catholic Theology. the ineffaceable imprint received on the soul through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and ordination.
(formerly) a cipher or cipher message.
Theater.
(of a part or role) representing a personality type, especially by emphasizing distinctive traits, as language, mannerisms, physical makeup, etc.
(of an actor or actress) acting or specializing in such roles.
to portray; describe.
to engrave; inscribe.
Idioms about character
in character,
in harmony with one's personal character or disposition: Such behavior is not in character for him.
in accordance with the role or personality assumed in a performance: an actor in character.
out of character,
out of harmony with one's personal character or disposition: Her remarks were out of character.
away from the role or personality assumed in a performance: The actor stepped out of character.
Origin of character
1synonym study For character
Other words for character
Other words from character
- char·ac·ter·less, adjective
- un·char·ac·tered, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use character in a sentence
But when they had gone and left her to the silence of her pretentious and characterless suite, Maggie did not rest.
Children of the Whirlwind | Leroy ScottAs if the perfection of her dress and the characterless beauty of her face were more important than anything else in her life.
Highways in Hiding | George Oliver SmithShe had the same tired droop in the shoulders, the same colorless dress, characterless with much washing.
Other Main-Travelled Roads | Hamlin GarlandWebster was a sodden, characterless youth, who bought his way into toleration which he mistook for popularity.
Lady Lilith | Stephen McKennaCharacterless, backboneless, negative kind of fellows with neither wisdom nor stature abound.
London's Underworld | Thomas Holmes
British Dictionary definitions for character
/ (ˈkærɪktə) /
the combination of traits and qualities distinguishing the individual nature of a person or thing
one such distinguishing quality; characteristic
moral force; integrity: a man of character
reputation, esp a good reputation
(as modifier): character assassination
a summary or account of a person's qualities and achievements; testimonial: my last employer gave me a good character
capacity, position, or status: he spoke in the character of a friend rather than a father
a person represented in a play, film, story, etc; role
an outstanding person: one of the great characters of the century
informal an odd, eccentric, or unusual person: he's quite a character
an informal word for person a shady character
a symbol used in a writing system, such as a letter of the alphabet
Also called: sort printing any single letter, numeral, punctuation mark, or symbol cast as a type
computing any letter, numeral, etc, which is a unit of information and can be represented uniquely by a binary pattern
a style of writing or printing
genetics any structure, function, attribute, etc, in an organism, which may or may not be determined by a gene or group of genes
a short prose sketch of a distinctive type of person, usually representing a vice or virtue
in character typical of the apparent character of a person or thing
out of character not typical of the apparent character of a person or thing
to write, print, inscribe, or engrave
rare to portray or represent
Origin of character
1Derived forms of character
- characterful, adjective
- characterless, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for character
[ kăr′ək-tər ]
Genetics A structure, function, or attribute determined by a gene or a group of genes.
Computer Science A symbol, such as a letter, number, or punctuation mark, that occupies one byte of memory. See more at ASCII.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for character
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with character
see in character; out of character.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse