character

[ kar-ik-ter ]

noun

1. the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.
2. one such feature or trait; characteristic.
3. moral or ethical quality:

   a man of fine, honorable character.

4. qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity:

   It takes character to face up to a bully.

5. reputation:

   a stain on one's character.

   Synonyms: repute, name

6. good repute.
7. an account of the qualities or peculiarities of a person or thing.
8. a person, especially with reference to behavior or personality:

   a suspicious character.

9. Informal. an odd, eccentric, or unusual person.
10. a person represented in a drama, story, etc.
11. a part or role, as in a play or film.
12. a symbol as used in a writing system, as a letter of the alphabet.
13. the symbols of a writing system collectively.
14. a significant visual mark or symbol.

    Synonyms: sign

15. status or capacity:

    the character of a justice of the peace.

16. a written statement from an employer concerning the qualities of a former employee.
17. 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.
18. Genetics. any trait, function, structure, or substance of an organism resulting from the effect of one or more genes as modified by the environment.
19. Computers.
    1. any symbol, as a number, letter, punctuation mark, etc., that represents data and that, when encoded, is usable by a machine.
    2. 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.
20. a style of writing or printing.
21. Roman Catholic Theology. the ineffaceable imprint received on the soul through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and ordination.
22. (formerly) a cipher or cipher message.

adjective

1. Theater.
   1. (of a part or role) representing a personality type, especially by emphasizing distinctive traits, as language, mannerisms, physical makeup, etc.
   2. (of an actor or actress) acting or specializing in such roles.

verb (used with object)

, Archaic.

1. to portray; describe.
2. to engrave; inscribe.

character

/ ˈkærɪktə /

noun

1. the combination of traits and qualities distinguishing the individual nature of a person or thing
2. one such distinguishing quality; characteristic
3. moral force; integrity

   a man of character

4. 1. reputation, esp a good reputation
   2. ( as modifier )

      character assassination

5. a summary or account of a person's qualities and achievements; testimonial

   my last employer gave me a good character

6. capacity, position, or status

   he spoke in the character of a friend rather than a father

7. a person represented in a play, film, story, etc; role
8. an outstanding person

   one of the great characters of the century

9. informal.
   an odd, eccentric, or unusual person

   he's quite a character

10. an informal word for person

    a shady character

11. a symbol used in a writing system, such as a letter of the alphabet
12. Also calledsort printing any single letter, numeral, punctuation mark, or symbol cast as a type
13. computing any letter, numeral, etc, which is a unit of information and can be represented uniquely by a binary pattern
14. a style of writing or printing
15. genetics any structure, function, attribute, etc, in an organism, which may or may not be determined by a gene or group of genes
16. a short prose sketch of a distinctive type of person, usually representing a vice or virtue
17. in character
    typical of the apparent character of a person or thing
18. out of character
    not typical of the apparent character of a person or thing

verb

1. to write, print, inscribe, or engrave
2. rare.
   to portray or represent

character

/ kăr′ək-tər /

1. Genetics.
   A structure, function, or attribute determined by a gene or a group of genes.
2. Computer Science.
   A symbol, such as a letter, number, or punctuation mark, that occupies one byte of memory.
3. Computer Science.
   See more at ASCII

character

1. A person in a literary work. For example, Ebenezer Scrooge is a character in A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens .

Derived Forms

• ˈcharacterful, adjective
• ˈcharacterless, adjective

Other Words From

• char·ac·ter·less adjective
• un·char·ac·tered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of character¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; from Latin, from Greek charaktḗr “graving tool, mark from an engraving tool,” equivalent to charak- (base of charáttein “to engrave”) + -tēr, agent suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of character¹

C14: from Latin: distinguishing mark, from Greek kharaktēr engraver's tool, from kharassein to engrave, stamp

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in character,
   1. in harmony with one's personal character or disposition:

      Such behavior is not in character for him.

   2. in accordance with the role or personality assumed in a performance:

      an actor in character.

2. out of character,
   1. out of harmony with one's personal character or disposition:

      Her remarks were out of character.

   2. away from the role or personality assumed in a performance:

      The actor stepped out of character.

More idioms and phrases containing character

see in character ; out of character .

Synonym Study

Character, individuality, personality refer to the sum of the characteristics possessed by a person. Character refers especially to moral qualities, ethical standards, principles, and the like: a man of sterling character. Individuality refers to the distinctive qualities that make one recognizable as a person differentiated from others: a woman of strong individuality. Personality refers particularly to the combination of outer and inner characteristics that determine the impression that a person makes upon others: a child of vivid or pleasing personality. See reputation.

Example Sentences

Part of Trump’s power and appeal as an authoritarian populist leader is that he is the main character and hero in a real-life movie that he is writing.

From Salon

The stadium isn’t old enough to feel outdated but is old enough to have acquired character.

From Los Angeles Times

A grand ensemble number opens the film, with characters exchanging verses that shrewdly extoll the family’s shared naivete and reveal each person’s neuroses.

From Salon

Alas, it turns out that the singular form of "Gladiator II" is key, because only one gladiator is named, and he's the main character.

From Salon

The word used again and again about his political character by sources close to him is "pragmatist".

From BBC

Related Words

• aspect
• cast
• humor
• kind
• nature
• personality
• quality
• sense
• spirit
• style
• tone
• type