Word
characterize
Phoneticschar·ac·ter·ize, stress on the first syllable
/ˈkɛɹəktɝˌaɪz/
UK spelling · characterise
Definitions
01to describe qualities
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to describe someone or something by their most important features, often in a specific way.
v. to describe the character or quality of someone or something; often used to frame a subject in a particular light.
“The media often characterize the new law as a threat to privacy.”
“Critics characterize his early novels as overly sentimental, though modern scholars argue they were actually quite subversive for their time.”
02to be a typical feature
C1 · Advanced Academic
v. to be a typical quality or feature of a person, place, or thing.
v. to be a typical or distinguishing feature of a person, group, or thing.
“Bright colors and bold lines characterize the artist's unique style.”
“A high degree of economic volatility characterized the decade following the sudden collapse of the central bank.”
Synonyms
03to identify traits
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
v. to study something to find out its special qualities or what it is made of.
v. to determine or identify the specific characteristics or properties of a substance or phenomenon.
“The researchers worked to characterize the new virus in the laboratory.”
“The study aims to fully characterize the chemical composition of the soil samples collected from the volcanic site.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “characterize” in context.
Verb
01. characterise by
“The disease is often characterised by a sudden onset of high fever and fatigue.”
verb + prep
Adverb
02. typically characterise
“High levels of innovation typically characterise the tech industry in this region.”
adv + verb
Usage
The verb is transitive and often appears in the passive voice ('is characterized by'). In British English, the spelling 'characterise' is standard.
Pitfall
The book characterizes about the war.
The book characterizes the war.
Characterize is a transitive verb and takes a direct object without a preposition like 'about'.
Real-World Examples
“In early stages, it’s characterized by a high fever, small spots inside the mouth and a rash.” “There is no single definition of drought, but it is characterised by a period of low rainfall.” Etymology
From Medieval Latin charactērizō, from Ancient Greek χαρακτηρίζω (kharaktērízō, “to designate by a characteristic mark”), from χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr, “a mark, character”). By surface analysis, character + -ize.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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