characterization

[kar-ik-ter-uh-zey-shuhn, -truh-zey-]

noun

1. portrayal; description.

   the actor's characterization of a politician.

   Synonyms: delineation, depiction, representation

2. the act of characterizing or describing the individual quality of a person or thing.

3. the creation and convincing representation of fictitious characters, as in a literary work.

characterization

/ ˌkærɪktəraɪˈzeɪʃən /

noun

1. description of character, traits, etc

2. the act of characterizing

Other Word Forms

• recharacterization noun
• self-characterization noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of characterization¹

1560–70; < Medieval Latin charactērizāt ( us ) marked (past participle of charactērizāre to characterize; -ate ¹ ) + Latin -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Thin characterizations, bland acting and a surfeit of bubbly cuteness combine to make a throw-pillow of a movie: It’s soft and decorative without being particularly useful or interesting.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Republican characterization of disability rolls as “brimming with malingerers, layabouts and fraudsters” is unfounded, particularly given that disability rates are highest in Republican-led states like West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some online critics deem High Point a “glorified country club,” a characterization students and administrators dispute.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

While acknowledging she is 85 years old, the characterization that she is “no Joe” suggests her situation differs substantially from the concerns that prompted Biden’s exit from the presidential race.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The spokesperson pushed back against the characterization Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• confession 
• definition 
• depiction 
• detail 
• explanation 
• information 
• narration 
• narrative 
• picture 
• portrayal 
• report 
• sketch 
• statement 
• story 
• summary 
• tale 
• version