DictionaryAI

characterise

verb
UKKA-rik-tuh-ryz/ˈkæɹəktəɹaɪz/USKAIR-ik-tuh-ryz/ˈkɛɹəktəɹaɪz/

Formscharacterises, characterising, characterised

US spellingcharacterize · also used in the UK

3 meanings of characterise

Practice

  1. 1
    be typicalverbtransitive
    To be typical of someone or something, as one of their usual features or qualities.

    Long, dark winters and short summers characterise life in the far north of Scotland.

    The period was characterised by rising prices and frequent strikes.

    UsageOften passive: be characterised by something (a period characterised by rising prices).

    Similarmark, typify

  2. 2
    describe asverbtransitive
    To describe or portray someone or something as being of a particular kind, often in an unfavourable light.

    Critics characterise the new policy as a tax on the poor.

    The minister characterised the protesters as a noisy minority who spoke for no one.

    UsageCharacterise someone or something as a kind of thing (characterised the plan as a tax on the poor).

    Similardescribe, portray, depict, paint, label

  3. 3
    identify featuresverbtransitive
    To work out or establish what the particular characteristics of something are.

    Researchers took core samples to characterise the soil beneath the site.

    Engineers need to characterise how the bridge behaves in high winds before it opens.

    Similaranalyse, assess

Practice

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Origin

Formed from character + the suffix -ise.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact