characterize
Americanverb (used with object)
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to mark or distinguish as a characteristic; be a characteristic of.
Rich metaphors characterize his poetry.
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to describe the character or individual quality of.
He characterized her in a few well-chosen words.
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to attribute character to.
to characterize him as a coward.
verb
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to be a characteristic of
loneliness characterized the place
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to distinguish or mark as a characteristic
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to describe or portray the character of
Other Word Forms
- characterizable adjective
- characterizer noun
- mischaracterize verb (used with object)
- recharacterize verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of characterize
First recorded in 1585–95; from Medieval Latin charactērizāre, from Greek charaktērízein; character, -ize
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Gambling” is a term that has been used to characterize certain futures contracts going back to the origins of the CEA.
From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026
And some experts predict that such an arrangement will characterize the regime in Iran a year or two from now.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026
He refuses to characterize Laxman as a seductive antihero, perhaps on the moral grounds of not wanting to make such a man seem attractive.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026
"At this point, it matters where every atom is, and it's really hard to characterize."
From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2026
I was startled that the French philosopher could so perfectly characterize the racists of our Southern states.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
