characterization

noun char·ac·ter·i·za·tion \ ˌker-ik-t(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən , ˌka-rik- \

|Updated on: 19 Aug 2018

Examples: characterization in a Sentence

Definition of characterization

: 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

See characterization defined for English-language learners

See characterization defined for kids

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 of characterization from the Web

Beyond broadly denying the allegations, Hill did not provide his own characterization of his interactions with Candelaria Reardon at the bar that night.

— kaitlin lange, Indianapolis Star, "'I stand before you a condemned man,': AG Curtis Hill says he's been unfairly judged," 9 July 2018
The two discuss how Fey gave them the freedom to interpret their characters anew, rather than basing them purely on their characterizations in the movie.

— rebecca milzoff, Billboard, "Billboard on Broadway Podcast: Erika Henningsen & Kate Rockwell Take Us Behind the Scenes of 'Mean Girls'," 22 June 2018
However, the game is so deep and beautifully crafted in its characterization and world-building, such issues are merely minor concerns in what is, ultimately, a masterful piece of game design.

— patrick shanley, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Detroit: Become Human' — Game Review," 24 May 2018
This is a shame, since much in McNees’s characterization of Hick is lively.

— sylvia brownrigg, New York Times, "Eleanor Roosevelt’s Love Life, as Fodder for Fiction," 15 May 2018
The major stumbling block was Ole Miss objecting to Patterson’s characterization of the conduct of Freeze and school staffers.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Shea Patterson's Eligibility Won't Fix All of Michigan's Problems," 27 Apr. 2018
The nonprofit disputed the negative characterization, insisting that L.A. Unified was responsible for delays in providing services.

— howard blume, latimes.com, "Contract extension for L.A. Unified inspector general falls through," 2 July 2018
The ensemble has long been viewed as an indispensable purveyor of punk, but that characterization is only partially accurate.

— bill brownlee, kansascity, "Social Distortion headlines the Middle of the Map Fest June 30 at Crossroads KC.," 13 June 2018
But Season 2 of the Freeform show has started off by rectifying the most glaring omission of its preceding installment: the incongruous characterization of Kat, the only lead of color.

— hannah giorgis, The Atlantic, "The Bold Type Delivers on Its Leads," 13 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of characterization

see ¹character

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1841

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

CHARACTERIZATION Defined for English Language Learners

characterization

noun

Definition of characterization for English Language Learners

: the act of describing the character or qualities of someone or something
: the way a writer makes a person in a story, book, play, movie, or television show seem like a real person