Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense characterizes, present participle characterizing, past tense, past participle characterizedregional note: in BRIT, also use characterise
1. verb
If something is characterizedby a particular feature or quality, that feature or quality is an obvious part of it.
[formal]
This election campaign has been characterized by violence. [beVERB-ed + by]
A bold use of colour characterizes the bedroom. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: distinguish, mark, identify, brand More Synonyms of characterize
2. verb
If you characterize someone or something as a particular thing, you describe them as that thing.
[formal]
Both companies have characterized the relationship as friendly. [VERB noun + as]
This play is characterized as a comedy. [V n as adj/n]
I don't fully agree with that characterization of the welfare system.
More Synonyms of characterize
characterize in British English
or characterise (ˈkærɪktəˌraɪz)
verb(transitive)
1.
to be a characteristic of
loneliness characterized the place
2.
to distinguish or mark as a characteristic
3.
to describe or portray the character of
Derived forms
characterizable (ˈcharacterˌizable) or characterisable (ˈcharacterˌisable)
adjective
characterizer (ˈcharacterˌizer) or characteriser (ˈcharacterˌiser)
noun
characterize in American English
(ˈkærəktərˌaɪz; ˈkærɪktərˌaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈcharacterˌized or ˈcharacterˌizing
1.
to describe or portray the particular qualities, features, or traits of
2.
to be the distinctive character of; distinguish
a miser is characterized by greed
Word origin
ML characterizare < Gr charaktērizein: see character
Examples of 'characterize' in a sentence
characterize
Such a control system could be characterized as haphazard and personal.
Torrington, Derek Personnel Management: A New Approach (1991)
Were your relationships characterized by service or by selfishness?
Christianity Today (2000)
In public their relationship is characterized by an unfamiliar delicacy and restraint.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
The economic system was not characterized by "perfect competition"; it had flaws.
Hunt, E. K. Property and Prophets: The Evolution of Economic Institutions and Ideologies (1995)
Secondly, he argues that any actual society will be characterized by alliances between classes.
Low, Nicholas Politics, Planning and the State (1990)
The third of these basic arrangements of religion in society is characterized by a radical change in the relationship between the sacred universe and social structure.
Greeley, Andrew M. Sociology and Religion: A Collection of Readings (1995)
The early years of industrial society were characterized by the uncontrolled growth of factories where work hazards were a routine part of workers' daily lives.
Appelbaum, Richard P. Sociology (1995)
Although sociologists do not deny that such individual factors can play a role, they prefer to focus on more systematic causes that characterize society as a whole.
Appelbaum, Richard P. Sociology (1995)
In other languages
characterize
British English: characterize VERB
to be characterized by sth If something is characterized by a particular feature or quality, that feature or quality is an obvious part of it.
This election campaign has been characterized by violence.
American English: characterize
Brazilian Portuguese: caracterizar
Chinese: 以…为特征
European Spanish: caracterizar
French: caractériser
German: charakterisieren
Italian: caratterizzare
Japanese: 特徴づける
Korean: ~을 특징으로 하다
European Portuguese: caracterizar
Latin American Spanish: caracterizar
Chinese translation of 'characterize'
characterize
(ˈkærɪktəraɪz) (frm)
vt
(= typify) 以 ... 为(為)特征(徵) (yǐ ... wéi tèzhēng)
(= describe the character of) 描绘(繪) (miáohuì)
to characterize sb/sth as把某人/某物描绘(繪)成 (bǎ mǒurén/mǒuwù miáohuì chéng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to be a characteristic of
This election campaign has been characterized by violence.
Synonyms
distinguish
one of the things that distinguishes artists from other people
mark
The style is marked by simplicity, clarity and candour.
identify
brand
The owner couldn't be bothered to brand the cattle.
inform
All great songs are informed by a certain sadness and tension.
stamp
They had stamped me as a bad woman.
typify
These buildings typify the rich extremes of the local architecture.
2 (verb)
Definition
to describe
He has often been characterized as lazy and incompetent.
Synonyms
portray
complaints about the way women are portrayed in adverts
show
What made you decide to show your paintings?
present
He was presented as a tragic figure.
represent
The cartoonist represents him as an old man in a dressing gown.
depict
Children's books often depict animals as gentle creatures.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of brand
Definition
to label, burn, or mark with or as if with a brand
The owner couldn't be bothered to brand the cattle.
Synonyms
mark,
burn,
label,
stamp,
scar
in the sense of depict
Definition
to describe in words
Children's books often depict animals as gentle creatures.
Synonyms
describe,
present,
represent,
detail,
outline,
sketch,
characterize
in the sense of inform
Definition
to impart some essential or formative characteristic to
All great songs are informed by a certain sadness and tension.