characterize

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "characterize" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something, usually with an adjective or other descriptor. Example: His demeanor characterized him as a kind person.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I'm not going to characterize them as reliable or unreliable," he said.

The Guardian

SIR—I'm continually puzzled by your paper's use of protectionism to characterize today's Democrats (Is America Turning Left? August 11 , 2007.

The Economist

If I had to characterize my deepest belief, I would say it's the centrality of the individual.

The Economist

The talking points also encourage Members to characterize Republicans as "Clueless in the Capitol .A Democratic Senate leadership aide said this coordinated message strategy has "been in the works for some time," suggesting that this theme will be repeated throughout the summer and into the fall.

The Economist

Precisely for that reason, fairness requires that they be shared more equitably, without the monumental disparities that characterize the contemporary world.

The Economist

5. Hubonomics: The new face of globalizationAs production and consumption become more distributed, hubs will characterize the next wave of "globalization".

The Economist

Geithner, of course, would survive the controversy and be confirmed, but this approach what I suspected to be a careful and potentially misleading parsing of the truth would soon characterize many of Treasury's public statements about TARP.Incidentally, Mr Barofsky leaves out the most damning detail of all.

The Economist

Unfortunately, when these subjects are addressed in the mass media, these media tend to characterize things only in the narrow and misleading terms of "censorship vs. freedom of the press" and thus stray from the actual question: "Can media violence have harmful effects?" The answer to this question, when the scientific and medical literature is surveyed, is now "Yes, it can, and it does".

The Economist

There is no reasonable way to characterize 30% as "few": it may be a minority, but it is a sizeable one at that.

The Economist

And while I fully understand why the author of your article is tempted to characterize the recent decision as indicative of the current political climate, the sentiments of Americans living outside DC have little to do with the reasons many Washingtonians support legalizing handguns.

The Economist

We first characterize what mass expressions are.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "characterize", ensure you provide specific details about the characteristics being highlighted for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "characterize" without providing sufficient context or detail. Instead of saying "the era was characterized by change", specify what changes defined that era.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "characterize" is as a transitive verb. It describes the act of identifying or highlighting the distinctive qualities or features of a subject. As shown in Ludwig AI, it's often used to define or depict someone or something in a particular way.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

4%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "characterize" is a versatile verb used to define or describe the distinct qualities of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related content, as the examples in Ludwig show, "characterize" helps to provide deeper insights and specific interpretations. Related terms such as "describe" or "define" can be used as alternatives, depending on the intended nuance. To use the word effectively, it's important to give concrete examples and avoid generalizations to make your writing as clear and useful as possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

describe

Focuses more on providing a detailed account rather than identifying essential traits.

define

Emphasizes setting the boundaries or limits of something, often in a formal way.

portray

Highlights the depiction or representation of something, often artistically or figuratively.

depict

Similar to portray, but can also involve a more literal or factual representation.

qualify

Adding more context, explaining how to understand something

typify

Focuses on identifying something as a typical example or representative of a larger group.

ascribe

Means attributing or assigning a particular quality or characteristic to something

distinguish

Emphasizes setting something apart from others based on its unique qualities.

identify

Focuses on recognizing or establishing what something is, often in a specific context.

label

Involves assigning a descriptive term or category to something, often for simplification.

FAQs

How can I use "characterize" in a sentence?

You can use "characterize" to describe the distinctive features or qualities of something. For example, "His generosity "characterized him" as a kind person".

What's a synonym for "characterize"?

Synonyms for "characterize" include "describe", "define", and "portray", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say something "characterizes of" a thing?

No, the correct usage is "characterizes" something directly, without the "of". For example, "This trait "characterizes the species"" is correct.

What is the difference between "characterize" and "identify"?

"Characterize" involves describing the qualities of something, while "identify" focuses on recognizing or establishing what something is. You characterize traits, but identify objects or individuals.