character type: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral; common in both formal and informal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “character type” mean?
The collective qualities, especially mental and moral, that distinguish an individual.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The collective qualities, especially mental and moral, that distinguish an individual; also, a person in a novel, play, or film.
Can refer to a printed or written symbol (like a letter), a distinguishing mark or quality, moral strength and integrity, or a person's reputation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. Spelling of derived terms: 'characterise/characterize'. Slight preference in the UK for 'character' in the sense of 'eccentric person'.
Connotations
In both, 'character' implies depth and individuality. The phrase 'a character' can mean an eccentric person.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties with all core meanings.
Grammar
How to Use “character type” in a Sentence
[VERB] + character: build/develop/form/mould/show/reveal character[ADJECTIVE] + character: flawed/weak/strong/forceful/cheerful charactercharacter + [VERB]: character emerges/develops/shines throughVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “character type” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The quaint village had a lot of character.
- His actions revealed a flaw in his character.
- She provided a character reference for the job.
American English
- The main character in the movie is very relatable.
- It takes character to admit you're wrong.
- The document was 10,000 characters long.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in references: 'She is a person of excellent character.'
Academic
Literature/Film Studies: 'Analyse the protagonist's character arc.' Psychology: 'Character traits are relatively stable.'
Everyday
Talking about people: 'He's a good judge of character.' Or about films: 'My favourite character died.'
Technical
Computing: 'A null character.' Typography: 'A Unicode character.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “character type”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “character type”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “character type”
- Confusing 'character' with 'characteristic' (a feature). Using 'He has a strong characteristic.' (Incorrect) vs. 'He has a strong character.' (Correct). Overusing 'character' to mean 'person' in non-narrative contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Personality often refers to visible social traits (outgoing, shy). Character implies deeper moral and ethical qualities (honest, courageous).
Rarely in modern English. The verb 'characterise' (UK) / 'characterize' (US) is standard, meaning 'to describe the character of' or 'to be typical of'.
Almost always about symbols (letters, spaces, numbers), especially in computing and text limits (e.g., 'Twitter has a 280-character limit').
It describes behaviour that is not typical or expected for a particular person or fictional role.
The collective qualities, especially mental and moral, that distinguish an individual.
Character type is usually neutral; common in both formal and informal contexts. in register.
Character type: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkærəktə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkærəktər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In character (typical of someone)”
- “Out of character (not typical)”
- “A character assassination”
- “A blot on one's character”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHARActer in a play – they have a distinct CHARActer (personality).
Conceptual Metaphor
CHARACTER IS A STRUCTURE ('build character'), CHARACTER IS A WRITTEN MARK ('Chinese characters'), CHARACTER IS A SEAL OF APPROVAL ('a testimonial to his character').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'character' mean 'a written symbol'?