characteristic

1 of 2

noun

char·​ac·​ter·​is·​tic ˌker-ik-tə-ˈri-stik How to pronounce characteristic (audio)
ˌka-rik-
1
: a distinguishing trait, quality, or property
the characteristics of this breed of dog
2
: the integral part of a common logarithm
3
: the smallest positive integer n which for an operation in a ring or field yields 0 when any element is used n times with the operation

characteristic

2 of 2

adjective

: revealing, distinguishing, or typical of an individual character
a poetic style characteristic of the epic
characteristically adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for characteristic

characteristic, individual, peculiar, distinctive mean indicating a special quality or identity.

characteristic applies to something that distinguishes or identifies a person or thing or class.

responded with her characteristic wit

individual stresses qualities that distinguish one from all other members of the same kind or class.

a highly individual writing style

peculiar applies to qualities possessed only by a particular individual or class or kind and stresses rarity or uniqueness.

an eccentricity that is peculiar to the British

distinctive indicates qualities distinguishing and uncommon and often superior or praiseworthy.

a distinctive aura of grace and elegance

Examples of characteristic in a Sentence

Noun the ability to fashion tools and other characteristics that distinguish human beings from other animals Adjective He responded to their comments with characteristic good humor. the characteristic taste of licorice
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But as on the three days that came before, Washington’s upwardly mobile high temperature reached levels on Friday far above those characteristic of March, and even above the average highs for April. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 The model matches these and other features with breast-cancer outcomes of women with similar characteristics and provides two risk assessments: a woman’s five-year risk of developing breast cancer, and her lifetime risk of the disease. TIME, 14 Mar. 2024 The two bills are: Senate Bill 567: Introduced by Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, this bill, among other things, would require schools to ensure students are screened for characteristics of dyslexia or other difficulties in learning to read by the 2027-28 school year. Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 Since at least the 1950s, researchers have sought to tap its appealing characteristics. IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2024 Changes in trade regimes—and their outcomes—that work in advanced, wealthy countries often face difficulty in emerging markets, especially ones where poverty is a key characteristic. Harry G. Broadman, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The study compared the turnout gap between white and nonwhite voters in areas once covered under Section 5 with estimates of the turnout gap in places that were never part of Section 5 but had similar demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Juliana Kim, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024 Whether your pain is acute (sudden and severe) or chronic (persistent or recurrent), communicating the characteristics of pain, including its duration and location, can help your healthcare provider diagnose the cause and/or prescribe the best treatment as quickly as possible. Jenny Sweigard, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2024 The drone was less than four miles away and had characteristics similar to those used in previous attacks, the Saturday statement said. Annabelle Timsit, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024
Adjective
These impart an astringent taste—described as bitter or dry—that is often characteristic of red wine.4 However, for some people, the tannins in tea can cause headaches. Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Health, 13 Mar. 2024 Most of the region is still very warm, characteristic of El Niño. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 But the most characteristic signs of measles — tiny white spots in the mouth and a blotchy rash that spreads from head to toe — don’t appear right away. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 This is the first time the technology has been used in an X100 Series camera while keeping the characteristic compact size. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Her most characteristic tone is beguilingly indeterminate: a new kind of song pleasure, mixing distance and intimacy. Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 Presenting their claim in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a top scientific journal, the researchers took the sober tone characteristic of such publications. Zach St. George, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 But more to the point, in addition to the characteristic red box with the ATK logo, right on the cover are photos and names of father-son duo Kevin Pang and Jeffrey Pang. Joe Yonan, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2024 The carnival is known in part for its mascot, Bonhomme, a snowman with a red hat, black buttons and the characteristic French Canadian ceinture fléchée, a type of sash. Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'characteristic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see character entry 1

Adjective

see character entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of characteristic was in 1646

Dictionary Entries Near characteristic

Cite this Entry

“Characteristic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/characteristic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

characteristic

1 of 2 noun
char·​ac·​ter·​is·​tic ˌkar-ik-tə-ˈris-tik How to pronounce characteristic (audio)
: a special quality or appearance that makes an individual or group different from others

characteristic

2 of 2 adjective
: typical of an individual or group
characteristically adverb

Medical Definition

characteristic

1 of 2 adjective
char·​ac·​ter·​is·​tic ˌkar-ik-tə-ˈris-tik How to pronounce characteristic (audio)
: serving to reveal and distinguish the individual character
characteristically adverb

characteristic

2 of 2 noun
: a distinguishing trait, quality, or property

More from Merriam-Webster on characteristic

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