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

Vaccine experts widely dispute Kennedy's characterizations. —Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 17 June 2025

World & Nation Ex-official says he was forced out of FDA after trying to protect vaccine safety data from RFK Jr. April 7, 2025 Maldonado rejected Kennedy’s characterization of the committee as a rubber stamp for vaccine makers. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025

Max knew that before any supernatural stuff took place, there needed to be enough characterization within the family to ground them once the unthinkable started happening. —William Earl, Variety, 23 May 2025

But the Sheriff’s Office rejected that characterization. —Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

see character entry 1

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing characterization

• self-characterization

Rhymes for characterization

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

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)