character

noun char·ac·ter \ ˈker-ik-tər , ˈka-rik- \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: character in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Traits of character

Definition of character

1 a : one of the attributes (see ¹attribute 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 : one of the persons of a drama or novel

b : the personality or part which an actor recreates

an actress who can create a character convincingly

c : characterization especially in drama or fiction

a novelist good in both character and setting

d : person, individual

a suspicious character

e : 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

e (1) : writing, printing

(2) : style of writing or printing

You know the character to be your brother's?
—Shakespeare

(3) : cipher

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

6 : position, capacity

his character as a town official

7 : reference 4b

8 : a short literary sketch of the qualities of a social type

—

characterless

play \-ləs\ adjective

— in character

: in accord with a person's usual qualities or traits

behaving in character

— out of character

: not in accord with a person's usual qualities or traits

his rudeness was completely out of character

See character defined for English-language learners

See character defined for kids

Examples of character in a Sentence

… 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 characterof 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.

Recent Examples of character from the Web

Spider-Man would go on to become arguably the most indispensable and recognizable character in the Marvel universe, and Doctor Strange a member of its permanent pantheon.

— karen matthews, BostonGlobe.com, "Steve Ditko, 90, Spider-Man cocreator," 7 July 2018
Too often his frustration at not being the central character in the World Cup’s great drama led to tantrums and dives.

— jonathan wilson, SI.com, "The Danger of Overreacting to Brazil's Disappointing World Cup Exit," 7 July 2018
Spider-Man would go on to become arguably the most indispensable and recognizable character in the Marvel universe, and Doctor Strange a member of its permanent pantheon.

— karen matthews and eric dalton, chicagotribune.com, "Steve Ditko, Spider-Man co-creator, dies at age 90," 7 July 2018
Johansson’s last film controversy stemmed from her decision to portray an Asian character in the film Ghost in the Shell.

— lydia price, PEOPLE.com, "10 Controversial Movies That Got Everyone Talking ... Before They Were Even Released," 5 July 2018
There’s a shot with like six, seven characters in the frame.

— todd vanderwerff, Vox, "The folks behind Ant-Man and the Wasp on why Marvel doesn’t always have to save the world," 5 July 2018
That’s an iconic character in my mind — in the comedy world.

— jon niccum, kansascity, "KC's Paul Rudd opens up about his superpowers: Ant-Man, Big Slick and eternal youth," 5 July 2018
According to the Guardian, The Hate U Give — in which the main character’s best friend is shot and killed by police — was but one of two titles on the eight-novel-long list that upset police.

— breanna edwards, The Root, "South Carolina Police Union Whines About Police Brutality Novel The Hate U Give Being on A School's Summer Reading List," 4 July 2018
Twenty films into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, moviegoers finally see a female character in the title.

— christina schoellkopf, Detroit Free Press, "How ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ battles for gender equality," 3 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'character.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Origin and Etymology of character

Middle English caracter, from Latin character mark, distinctive quality, from Greek charaktēr, from charassein to scratch, engrave; perhaps akin to Lithuanian žerti to scratch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 4f

See Words from the same year

character Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of character

disposition, temperament, temper, character, personality mean the dominant quality or qualities distinguishing a person or group. disposition implies customary moods and attitude toward the life around one.

- a cheerful disposition

temperament implies a pattern of innate characteristics associated with one's specific physical and nervous organization.

- an artistic temperament

temper implies the qualities acquired through experience that determine how a person or group meets difficulties or handles situations.

- a resilient temper

character applies to the aggregate of moral qualities by which a person is judged apart from intelligence, competence, or special talents.

- strength of character

personality applies to an aggregate of qualities that distinguish one as a person.

- a somber personality

quality, property, character, attribute mean an intelligible feature by which a thing may be identified. quality is a general term applicable to any trait or characteristic whether individual or generic.

- material with a silky quality

property implies a characteristic that belongs to a thing's essential nature and may be used to describe a type or species.

- the property of not conducting heat

character applies to a peculiar and distinctive quality of a thing or a class.

- remarks of an unseemly character

attribute implies a quality ascribed to a thing or a being.

- the attributes of a military hero

type, kind, sort, nature, description, character mean a number of individuals thought of as a group because of a common quality or qualities. type may suggest strong and clearly marked similarity throughout the items included so that each is typical of the group.

- one of three basic body types

kind may suggest natural grouping.

- a zoo seemingly having animals of every kind

sort often suggests some disparagement.

- the sort of newspaper dealing in sensational stories

nature may imply inherent, essential resemblance rather than obvious or superficial likenesses.

- two problems of a similar nature

description implies a group marked by agreement in all details belonging to a type as described or defined.

- not all acts of that description are actually illegal

character implies a group marked by distinctive likenesses peculiar to the type.

- research on the subject so far has been of an elementary character

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

character

adjective

Definition of character

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

Recent Examples of character from the Web

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, "Dog Praised as Hero for Saving Deer (Whether He Meant To or Not)," 18 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of character

see ¹character

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1841

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

character

verb

Definition of character

charactered; charactering; characters

transitive verb

1 a : characterize

b archaic : represent, portray

2 archaic : engrave, inscribe

Examples of character in a Sentence

formerly charactered as “the dark ages,” that period of history may not have been quite so benighted as once thought

Recent Examples of character from the Web

Unlike some other Victorian mystery series, this one hews less to period details and more to character development as Lenox unravels the mystery of the murder of a woman found in a trunk on an island along the Thames.

— bethanne patrick, The Seattle Times, "Six beach reads that bring more pleasure than guilt," 2 July 2018
But that might be because the pilot glosses over every aspect of the story, from art design to character development and plot construction.

— adi robertson, The Verge, "NBC’s new VR thriller Reverie is a schmaltzy take on techno-dystopia," 30 May 2018
That kind of explosiveness could make K-State a more formidable NCAA draw if Wade and Brown indeed are back, and the Wildcats also had to be encouraged by some solid performances off the bench and the testament to character that their rally was.

— vahe gregorian, kansascity, ""Grossed out:" Barry Brown's eye injury stifles K-State but bigger opportunity awaits | The Kansas City Star," 9 Mar. 2018
The story can't seem to decide which character to concentrate on, jumping from character arc to character arc like a hyperactive child and robbing any plot thread of any emotional heft.

— patrick cooley, cleveland.com, "'Pitch Perfect 3:' How to give an audience what it wants," 21 Dec. 2017
The main library downtown is asking fans to dress up as their favorite Doctor Who characters to parade through the building at 3:15 pm.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Elgin libraries host Doctor Who Day Saturday," 31 Aug. 2017
His commitment to character impressed the man himself.

— jonas shaffer, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles' Adam Jones is real star of the night at Baltimore's WWE Extreme Rules," 5 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of character

see ¹character

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1555

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

character Synonyms

Synonyms

characterize, define, depict, describe, portray, represent;

Related Words

categorize, classify, pigeonhole, type;

color, identify, indicate, name, specify;

distinguish, individualize, mark, particularize, stamp;

Other Performing Arts Terms

diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary, zany

CHARACTER Defined for English Language Learners

character

noun

Definition of character for English Language Learners

: the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves : someone's personality
: a set of qualities that are shared by many people in a group, country, etc.
: a set of qualities that make a place or thing different from other places or things