characterize
C1Formal and Academic
Definition
Meaning
To describe the distinctive nature or features of someone or something.
To be a typical or defining feature of something; to portray in a particular way.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a judgment or evaluation, not just neutral description. Can be used positively (characterized by kindness) or negatively (characterized by inefficiency).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'characterise' is the standard British spelling, 'characterize' is American. Both are understood globally, but regional preferences exist.
Connotations
In British academic writing, 'characterise' might be perceived as slightly more formal/technical. In American usage, 'characterize' is standard across registers.
Frequency
The '-ize' spelling is also common in British academic publishing due to Oxford spelling conventions, leading to mixed usage in the UK.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
characterize something as somethingbe characterized by somethingcharacterize somebody/somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(be) characterized by”
- “to characterize something as”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports to describe market conditions or company culture (e.g., 'The quarter was characterized by volatility').
Academic
Frequent in theses and papers to define phenomena or periods (e.g., 'The era was characterized by rapid technological change').
Everyday
Less common in casual speech; more likely in discussion or writing about people/trends.
Technical
Used in scientific writing to define the properties of a substance, species, or system.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The report seeks to characterise the economic climate of the 1990s.
- His style is often characterised by abrupt shifts in tone.
- She characterised the proposal as unworkable.
American English
- The study aims to characterize the protein's function.
- His leadership was characterized by transparency and decisiveness.
- Critics were quick to characterize the policy as a failure.
adverb
British English
- N/A (characterize is not an adverb)
American English
- N/A (characterize is not an adverb)
adjective
British English
- N/A (characterize is not an adjective)
American English
- N/A (characterize is not an adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I would characterize him as a very honest person.
- The meeting was characterized by a friendly atmosphere.
- The region is characterized by its mild winters and hot summers.
- The artist's early work is characterized by bold use of colour.
- The period was characterized by profound social upheaval and intellectual ferment.
- The model attempts to characterize the dynamics of information flow within the network.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'To show the CHARACTER of something'.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEFINING IS PAINTING A PORTRAIT (we 'sketch' or 'outline' the features of something).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'характеризовать' which is a direct cognate but can sound overly formal/calqued in some English contexts. In English, it's often better replaced with 'describe' or 'is typical of' in spoken language.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'characterize' for simple description without implying typical/defining features (overuse).
- Incorrect preposition: 'characterize with' instead of 'characterize by'.
- Spelling confusion between -ise/-ize.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'characterize' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is more common in formal, academic, and professional writing than in casual conversation.
'Describe' is neutral and general. 'Characterize' often implies describing the most typical, defining, or essential qualities.
Yes, it can be used negatively (e.g., 'His tenure was characterized by scandal'), positively, or neutrally. The context provides the evaluation.
The main noun forms are 'characterization' (the act or result of characterizing) and 'character' (the inherent qualities themselves).