char·ac·ter
ˈker-ik-tər 
ˈka-rik-
plural characters
1
a
: one of the attributes (see attribute entry 1 sense 1) or features that make up and distinguish an individual
This is a side of her character that few people have seen.
b(1)
: a feature used to separate distinguishable things into categories
also
: a group or kind so separated
advertising of a very primitive character
(2)
: the aggregate of distinctive qualities characteristic of a breed, strain, or type
a wine of great character
(3)
: the detectable expression of the action of a gene or group of genes
c
: the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, group, or nation
the character of the American people
d
: main or essential nature especially as strongly marked and serving to distinguish
Excess sewage gradually changed the character of the lake.
2
a
: someone who appears in a book, movie, etc. : a representation of an individual personality in a fictional or dramatic work
a character in a play
the novel's main/lead/central character
a minor/supporting character
fictional characters
a cartoon character
… spends her days scripting stories for an entertainment company about background characters in video games.—
Lauren Sarner
see also non-player character
Lauren Sarner
b
: the personality or part which an actor recreates
an actress who can create a character convincingly
c
: an avatar in a video game
There will be a bevy of cosmetic items to purchase …, allowing players to totally customize their characters …—Michael Kelly
Michael Kelly
d
: characterization especially in drama or fiction
a novelist good in both character and setting
e
: person, individual
a suspicious character
f
: a person marked by notable or conspicuous traits
quite a character
3
: moral excellence and firmness
a man of sound character
4
a
: a graphic symbol (such as a hieroglyph or alphabet letter) used in writing or printing
b
: a symbol (such as a letter or number) that represents information
mathematical characters
also
: a representation of such a symbol that may be accepted by a computer
c
: a magical or astrological emblem
d
: alphabet
f
: a conventionalized graphic device placed on an object as an indication of ownership, origin, or relationship
5
: reputation
The scandal has damaged his character and image.
8
: a short literary sketch of the qualities of a social type
1
: capable of portraying an unusual or eccentric personality often markedly different from the player
a character actor
2
: requiring or involving the portrayal of an unusual or eccentric personality
a character role
charactered; charactering; characters
Did you know?
Traits of Character
Character demonstrates that a word may have many and varied meanings and yet still be easily understood by most listeners when used in disparate settings. We have little trouble distinguishing the meanings of the noun in “she had a fine and noble character,” “Bill is always joking; he’s such a character,” and “He was the last character to appear in the play,” not to mention its many other applications. Character comes ultimately from the Greek charaktēr (“mark, distinctive quality”), which passed through Latin and French before landing in English. The Greek noun itself is derived from the verb charassein, meaning “to sharpen, cut in furrows, or engrave.” The literal sense of the noun (“an engraved or imprinted mark”) existed in Greek, Latin, and French side by side with the figurative one (“a distinctive quality”), and both senses were borrowed into English early on, with a variant of the figurative sense appearing first.
Synonyms
Examples of character in a Sentence
Noun
… this makes everyone believe not only that anyone can be a parent, but also that everyone ought to do it, even those who seem by character or inclination to be ill equipped.
—Anna Quindlen, Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2009
Someone with Alzheimer's may undergo a regression to a "second childhood," but aspects of one's essential character, of personality and personhood, of self, survive …
—Oliver Sacks, Musicophilia, (2007) 2008
"Beat" is old carny slang. According to Beat Movement legend (and it is a movement with a deep inventory of legend), Ginsberg and Kerouac picked it up from a character named Herbert Huncke, a gay street hustler and drug addict from Chicago who began hanging around Times Square in 1939 …
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2007
Slowly, steadily, Och and Chris passed along their knowledge of the character of various courses, and the way a race evolves tactically.
—Lance Armstrong, It's Not About the Bike, (2000) 2001
Her character struck the Swede back then as a compound in which you'd find just about everything toxic to desperation and dread. At the core of her he could imagine a nucleus of confidence plaited just as neatly and tightly as her braided hair.
—Philip Roth, American Pastoral, 1997
the unique character of the town
The building is very simple in character.
Their house has a lot of character.
Verb
formerly charactered as “the dark ages,” that period of history may not have been quite so benighted as once thought
See More
Anna Quindlen, Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2009
Someone with Alzheimer's may undergo a regression to a "second childhood," but aspects of one's essential character, of personality and personhood, of self, survive …
—Oliver Sacks, Musicophilia, (2007) 2008
"Beat" is old carny slang. According to Beat Movement legend (and it is a movement with a deep inventory of legend), Ginsberg and Kerouac picked it up from a character named Herbert Huncke, a gay street hustler and drug addict from Chicago who began hanging around Times Square in 1939 …
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2007
Slowly, steadily, Och and Chris passed along their knowledge of the character of various courses, and the way a race evolves tactically.
—Lance Armstrong, It's Not About the Bike, (2000) 2001
Her character struck the Swede back then as a compound in which you'd find just about everything toxic to desperation and dread. At the core of her he could imagine a nucleus of confidence plaited just as neatly and tightly as her braided hair.
—Philip Roth, American Pastoral, 1997
the unique character of the town
The building is very simple in character.
Their house has a lot of character.
Verb
formerly charactered as “the dark ages,” that period of history may not have been quite so benighted as once thought
See More
Recent Examples on the WebHerb Scribner, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2023
The characters have hardly been given opportunity to evolve beyond their first impressions.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Sep. 2023
Oftentimes, the hero of these tales is white and aids the working-class characters on the sidelines.
—Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2023
The Halloween factor is still there, as is Branagh’s singularly peculiar Poirot, his franchise co-star of a multilayered mustache, and Ariadne Oliver, another regular Christie character who accompanies Poirot on his outings.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2023
Jack Dutton Jack is a character in 1923 played by Darren Mann.
—Emily J. Shiffer, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2023
Inside the main pad, there are more than 5,600 square feet of living space, with four en-suite bedrooms and all sorts of character features such as sash windows and tall ceilings.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 Sep. 2023
The film, directed by Roger Ross Williams, shows Saúl (played with fierce purpose and lacerating wit by Gael García Bernal) crafting the character of Cassandro, an exótico, a wrestler who performs in drag.
—The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2023
But Reymont was also in parts wonderfully evocative in his picturesque descriptions of characters, down to their costumes and mannerisms.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Sep. 2023
Alissa Simon, Variety, 3 Sep. 2021
The best shows and movies are often character dramas at heart; even Westworld was in its first season.
—Wired, 9 July 2022
The success of the single has been remarkable for a multi-character theatrical piece.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2022
There’s a lot of inter-character conflicts that didn’t make the cut.
—Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 21 May 2021
Character witnesses for Storm include a parade of foster puppies the Freeleys have taken in over the last month.
—Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 18 July 2017
Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 25 May 2023
This results in a wine with a wild and brambly character rather than an oaky style.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2023
From rides, shows and parades to character interactions and dining experiences, fans of all ages can experience their favorite Disney movies in real life.
—Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 22 Feb. 2023
But to retain its clout and character the liberal order needs restored leadership and difficult reforms.
—The Economist, 18 June 2020
This is a sport whose major victories are accompanied by gauzy paeans to character.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2022
And Lin told the Raptors Show that the curriculum will include everything from shooting hoops to character development and communication.
—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 16 June 2022
Well, one chief reason: To dramatize the passing of the superhero torch to sisterly character Yelena Belova — a role that Pugh embraced with athletic ferocity and quick comic aplomb.
—Washington Post, 30 Dec. 2021
And without that depth, Spike’s buddy-cop dynamic with his main foil, Jet, does neither character any favors.
—Cecilia D'anastasio, Wired, 19 Nov. 2021
See More
Noun
Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis criticized for Danny Masterson character letters
Kutcher said Masterson’s family had asked the couple to write the letters after the actor was convicted.
—Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2023
The characters have hardly been given opportunity to evolve beyond their first impressions.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 16 Sep. 2023
Oftentimes, the hero of these tales is white and aids the working-class characters on the sidelines.
—Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2023
The Halloween factor is still there, as is Branagh’s singularly peculiar Poirot, his franchise co-star of a multilayered mustache, and Ariadne Oliver, another regular Christie character who accompanies Poirot on his outings.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2023
Jack Dutton Jack is a character in 1923 played by Darren Mann.
—Emily J. Shiffer, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2023
Inside the main pad, there are more than 5,600 square feet of living space, with four en-suite bedrooms and all sorts of character features such as sash windows and tall ceilings.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 Sep. 2023
The film, directed by Roger Ross Williams, shows Saúl (played with fierce purpose and lacerating wit by Gael García Bernal) crafting the character of Cassandro, an exótico, a wrestler who performs in drag.
—The New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2023
But Reymont was also in parts wonderfully evocative in his picturesque descriptions of characters, down to their costumes and mannerisms.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Sep. 2023
Adjective
For over 25 years, Emmy-award winning directors/producers Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine have jointly created multi-character documentary narratives that use the personal stories of their protagonists to paint a larger portrait of the human experience.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 3 Sep. 2021
The best shows and movies are often character dramas at heart; even Westworld was in its first season.
—Wired, 9 July 2022
The success of the single has been remarkable for a multi-character theatrical piece.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 24 Mar. 2022
There’s a lot of inter-character conflicts that didn’t make the cut.
—Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 21 May 2021
Character witnesses for Storm include a parade of foster puppies the Freeleys have taken in over the last month.
—Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 18 July 2017
Verb
Funny and sweet, the book is superbly narrated by Eunice Wong, whose versatile voice moves from character to character with ease and persuasiveness.
—Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 25 May 2023
This results in a wine with a wild and brambly character rather than an oaky style.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2023
From rides, shows and parades to character interactions and dining experiences, fans of all ages can experience their favorite Disney movies in real life.
—Lexie Sachs, Good Housekeeping, 22 Feb. 2023
But to retain its clout and character the liberal order needs restored leadership and difficult reforms.
—The Economist, 18 June 2020
This is a sport whose major victories are accompanied by gauzy paeans to character.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2022
And Lin told the Raptors Show that the curriculum will include everything from shooting hoops to character development and communication.
—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 16 June 2022
Well, one chief reason: To dramatize the passing of the superhero torch to sisterly character Yelena Belova — a role that Pugh embraced with athletic ferocity and quick comic aplomb.
—Washington Post, 30 Dec. 2021
And without that depth, Spike’s buddy-cop dynamic with his main foil, Jet, does neither character any favors.
—Cecilia D'anastasio, Wired, 19 Nov. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'character.' 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, Adjective, and Verb
Middle English caracter, from Latin character mark, distinctive quality, from Greek charaktēr, from charassein to scratch, engrave; perhaps akin to Lithuanian žerti to scratch
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4f
Adjective
1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Time Traveler
The first known use of character was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing character
Articles Related to character
Dictionary Entries Near character
Cite this Entry
“Character.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/character. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
character
noun
char·ac·ter
ˈkar-ik-tər
1
a
: a mark or symbol (as a letter or numeral) used in writing or printing
b
: a symbol (as a letter or number) that represents information
also
: something standing for such a character that may be accepted by a computer
2
a
: a distinguishing feature : characteristic
b
: the group of qualities that make a person, group, or thing different from others
c
: the bodily expression (as eye color or leaf shape) of the action of a gene or group of genes
3
: an odd or peculiar person
4
: a person in a story, novel, or play
6
: moral excellence
hard work builds character
characterless
adjective
-ləs
Medical Definition
character
noun
char·ac·ter
ˈkar-ik-tər
1
: one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish the individual
2
: the detectable expression of the action of a gene or group of genes
3
: the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, group, or nation
More from Merriam-Webster on character
Nglish: Translation of character for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of character for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about character
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