characteristic

1 of 2

noun

char·​ac·​ter·​is·​tic ˌker-ik-tə-ˈri-stik How to pronounce characteristic (audio)
ˌka-rik-
plural characteristics
Synonyms of characteristic
1
: a distinguishing trait, quality, or property
the characteristics of this breed of dog
2
: the integral part of a common logarithm
3
: the smallest positive integer n which for an operation in a ring or field yields 0 when any element is used n times with the operation

characteristic

2 of 2

adjective

: revealing, distinguishing, or typical of an individual character
a poetic style characteristic of the epic
characteristically
ˌker-ik-tə-ˈri-sti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce characteristic (audio)
ˌka-rik-
adverb

Synonyms of characteristic

Relevance

Noun

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for characteristic

characteristic, individual, peculiar, distinctive mean indicating a special quality or identity.

characteristic applies to something that distinguishes or identifies a person or thing or class.

responded with her characteristic wit

individual stresses qualities that distinguish one from all other members of the same kind or class.

a highly individual writing style

peculiar applies to qualities possessed only by a particular individual or class or kind and stresses rarity or uniqueness.

an eccentricity that is peculiar to the British

distinctive indicates qualities distinguishing and uncommon and often superior or praiseworthy.

a distinctive aura of grace and elegance

Examples of characteristic in a Sentence

Noun the ability to fashion tools and other characteristics that distinguish human beings from other animals Adjective He responded to their comments with characteristic good humor. the characteristic taste of licorice
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
If researchers can reliably take advantage of these characteristics, biological computing could one day be the prime choice in applications where systems need to adapt to unfamiliar conditions in a field far from home. — Mike McRae 19, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026 The challenge is to broaden a brand’s appeal without diluting the characteristics that distinguish it from competitors. — Yiling Pan, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Humans, for example, typically have their hearts on the left, while other internal organs occupy characteristic positions. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 Bertrand Lavier’s contribution is a Formula One Renault, repainted with the thick, dynamic brushstrokes that have been characteristic of his work since the 1980s. — Sarah Belmont For Artnews, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for characteristic

Word History

Etymology

Noun

see character entry 1

Adjective

see character entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of characteristic was in 1646

Phrases Containing characteristic

Rhymes for characteristic

See All Rhymes for characteristic

Browse Nearby Words

characterisation
characteristic
characteristically
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Characteristic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/characteristic. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

characteristic

1 of 2 noun
char·​ac·​ter·​is·​tic ˌkar-ik-tə-ˈris-tik How to pronounce characteristic (audio)
: a special quality or appearance that makes an individual or group different from others

characteristic

2 of 2 adjective
: typical of an individual or group
characteristically
-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce characteristic (audio)
adverb

Medical Definition

characteristic

1 of 2 adjective
char·​ac·​ter·​is·​tic ˌkar-ik-tə-ˈris-tik How to pronounce characteristic (audio)
: serving to reveal and distinguish the individual character
characteristically
-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce characteristic (audio)
adverb

characteristic

2 of 2 noun
: a distinguishing trait, quality, or property
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