characterization

noun

char·​ac·​ter·​i·​za·​tion ˌker-ik-t(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌka-rik-

: the act of characterizing

especially : the artistic representation (as in fiction or drama) of human character or motives

the author's characterization of the boy as someone who wanted to be accepted by others

Examples of characterization in a Sentence

The reporter was criticized for his characterization of the people of the town as poor and uneducated.

News reporting requires accurate characterization.

The class discussed the author's characterization of the boy as someone who wanted to be accepted by others.

The story has good characterization.

Recent Examples on the Web

In his own statement to Billboard, Freundlich disputed Pharrell’s characterization of the situation. —Bill Donahue, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024

Statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. —Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2024

Schillings did not answer a question about the indictment’s characterization of the firm. —Jonathan O'Connell, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024

Although the artist had hastily named his piece, the characterization stuck. —Emily Labarge, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024

Belton Mayor Norman Larkey refuted this characterization in an interview, saying that VanMeveren had nothing to do with his city’s decision to cancel the agreement. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024

In recent comments to reporters, Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher, who chairs a House select committee on China, rejected characterizations of the bill as a TikTok ban. —Nectar Gan, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024

Many films are basically kits that require the audience to do the work not merely of interpretation but of characterization, based on a handful of clues. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024

Several justices pushed back Monday on the states’ characterizations of those messages and pointed out inaccuracies in their filings. —Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see character entry 1

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing characterization

• self-characterization

Kids Definition

characterization

noun

char·​ac·​ter·​i·​za·​tion ˌkar-ik-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

1

: the act of characterizing

2

: the creation of characters (as in a book or play)