# character

/ˈkɛɹɪktɝ/ (US) · /kˈæɹɪktɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/character
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. person in a story

noun · CEFR A2

a person in a book, play, or film.

For teachers: a fictional being or persona involved in the action of a narrative work.

- My favorite character in the movie was the brave young pilot.
- The protagonist is a complex character whose motivations remain ambiguous until the final chapter of the novel.

### 2. personality and qualities

noun · CEFR B1

the qualities that make a person or place different from others.

For teachers: the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual or group.

- The old town has a lot of character because of its narrow streets.
- The interview process is designed to assess a candidate's character and integrity rather than just their technical proficiency.

### 3. moral strength

noun · CEFR B2

the quality of being honest, brave, and strong in your choices.

For teachers: strength of mind and moral resolution; the possession of high ethical standards.

- It takes great character to admit when you have made a mistake.
- The coach praised the team's character after they managed to stay focused despite the hostile atmosphere in the stadium.

### 4. letter or symbol

noun · CEFR B1

a letter, number, or symbol used in writing or on a computer.

For teachers: a printed or written symbol; in computing, a basic unit of information corresponding to a grapheme or control code.

- Your password must be at least eight characters long.
- The software struggled to render certain mathematical characters correctly when exporting the document to a plain text format.

### 5. an unusual person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person who is unusual, funny, or interesting.

For teachers: an individual with eccentric, notable, or charismatic traits.

- The old man at the library is quite a character; he always tells jokes.
- The local baker was a real character who would burst into song whenever a customer ordered a sourdough loaf.

### 6. reputation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the opinion that people have about someone's honesty and habits.

For teachers: the estimate or reputation put upon a person; often used in legal or formal contexts regarding a person's standing.

- The lawyer called several witnesses to testify to the man's good character.
- The defendant's character was called into question during the cross-examination, focusing on his history of financial irregularities.

## Examples

- My favorite character in the movie is the hero.
- The author spent several chapters developing the main character's backstory to explain her current motivations.
- While the protagonist is well-written, the secondary characters lack the depth necessary to make the interpersonal conflicts feel truly high-stakes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.