characteristic
ka-ruhk-tuh-RIHS-tihk
Characteristic (adj) means Typical of a particular person or thing; serving to identify it. Example: “The old house had the characteristic smell of damp wood and polish.”
adj
1
Typical of a particular person or thing; serving to identify it.
"The old house had the characteristic smell of damp wood and polish."
"He answered with his characteristic bluntness."
"The dish has the characteristic sourness of fermented dough."
noun
1
A distinguishing feature or quality of someone or something.
"Red feathers are a characteristic of this species of bird."
"One characteristic of good writing is that it is clear."
"Patience is one of her best characteristics."
How to use characteristic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA typical or defining trait, or (as an adjective) typical of someone or something.
Common pairings
characteristic feature
characteristic of
key characteristics
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Word forms
- Plural
- characteristics
- Comparative
- more characteristic
- Superlative
- most characteristic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old house had the _____ smell of damp wood and polish.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek kharaktēristikos ("marked by a distinguishing feature"), from kharaktēr ("a mark, character").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
uncharacteristic
untypical
Related words
Rhymes for characteristic
holistic
sadistic
artistic
autistic
logistic
heuristic
statistic
realistic
ballistic
hedonistic
linguistic
futuristic
See all rhymes for characteristic →
Frequently asked questions
What does “characteristic” mean?
The word “characteristic” means typical of a particular person or thing; serving to identify it. In plain terms, a typical or defining trait, or (as an adjective) typical of someone or something.
How do you pronounce “characteristic”?
“Characteristic” is pronounced ka-ruhk-tuh-RIHS-tihk (/ˌkæɹ(ə)ktəˈɹɪstɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “characteristic” in a sentence?
Here is “characteristic” used in a sentence: “He answered with his characteristic bluntness.”
What is another word for “characteristic”?
Words with a similar meaning to “characteristic” include designation, distinction, distinctiveness, feature, owndom and parameter.
What is the opposite of “characteristic”?
The opposite of “characteristic” — its antonyms — are uncharacteristic and untypical.
What part of speech is “characteristic”?
Depending on how it is used, “characteristic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “characteristic” come from?
The word “characteristic” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek kharaktēristikos ("marked by a distinguishing feature"), from kharaktēr ("a mark, character").
Is “characteristic” a common word?
“Characteristic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'characteristic' and 'trait'?
Both refer to a distinguishing feature of someone or something. 'Trait' is used most often for aspects of personality or genetics, while 'characteristic' is broader and applies to people, objects, and abstract things alike.
What is the difference between 'characteristic' and 'feature'?
A 'feature' is any notable part or aspect of something, while a 'characteristic' specifically distinguishes or identifies it as typical. Something can have a feature that is not characteristic, but a characteristic is by definition a defining or typical quality.
How is 'characteristic' used as an adjective versus as a noun?
As an adjective, 'characteristic' means typical of a particular person or thing, as in 'her characteristic smile.' As a noun, it means a distinguishing feature or quality, as in 'an important characteristic of metals.'
What is the difference between 'characteristic' and 'characteristically'?
'Characteristic' is the adjective or noun describing a typical or distinguishing quality. 'Characteristically' is the adverb, meaning in a typical manner, as in 'he characteristically arrived early.'
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