What does characterise mean?
Characterise is a verb with two closely related uses: it can mean to describe the distinctive nature of something, as when a critic characterises a novel as bleakly comic, or to serve as a defining feature of it, as when generosity characterises a person's behaviour. The word carries a formal, analytical tone and is a staple of academic, journalistic, and critical prose, where precision about qualities matters. It is most often encountered in passive constructions such as 'is characterised by' or 'was characterised as', which allow writers to condense a portrait into a few telling attributes. Characterise follows British spelling conventions; American English prefers characterize. Its roots reach back to the Greek kharakter, an engraving tool's stamp, making it a cousin of both 'character' and 'characteristic'. For learners, it is a valuable word for articulating exactly what makes a person, place, era, or work distinct.
verbTo describe the distinctive nature or features of someone or something; also, to be typical or characteristic of a person or thing.
- To describe the distinctive qualities or features of someone or something.
- To be a typical or distinguishing feature of someone or something.
"Her writing is characterised by sharp wit and unflinching honesty."
"Critics characterised the film as a haunting meditation on grief."
"The region's climate is characterised by mild winters and wet summers."
The Greek root of 'characterise' — kharax, a pointed engraving tool — is the same one behind 'character': your character is quite literally what life has engraved into you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of characterise
Characterise derives from the Greek kharakter, meaning an engraving tool or the mark it stamps, via the verb kharakterizein, 'to engrave'. The term passed into Latin and then French before entering English in the 17th century, initially carrying the sense of marking or engraving a description onto something. Its cognates include 'character' itself and 'characteristic', all sharing the image of an indelible stamped mark.
Related word forms
How characterise is actually used
Characterise is the standard British spelling; characterize predominates in American English. It is somewhat formal in register and appears frequently in academic and journalistic writing. In the passive ('be characterised by/as'), it is especially common for summarising defining traits.
Easily confused with characterise
Characterize is the same word in its standard American spelling, while characterise is the standard British spelling.
Characteristic is an adjective or noun describing a typical feature, whereas characterise is the verb of describing or marking that quality.