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character

character

279 2.3
The qualities that make a person, place, or thing special
  • noun
  • /ˈkɛrɪktər/
translation icon : carácter
  • We also, and just as importantly, miss the individual character of their pleasures.
  • character traits
  • distinctive character
  • national character

It's impossible to change the character of the glasses.

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Examples

  • The text also does not discuss the appearance or character of the rulers.

    Academic text (2013)
  • It's impossible to change the character of the glasses.

  • Each town had its own individual character and served as the center of daily life.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Each has its own distinct character, history and form of government.

  • The same combination, two in one, should determine the character and purpose of aid and intervention.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The school's purpose is to cultivate intellect and character in partnership with families and the community.

    Academic text (2013)
  • A country's character is defined by its everyday rustics, as you call them.

  • Even the stylish forged iron keys contribute to the aesthetic character of the musical instrument.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Oh, sure, my apartment's a little smaller than what I was used to back in Omaha, and the rent's pretty darn steep, but it's got a lot of character.

  • Many longtime residents say the neighborhood has maintained its character throughout the influx of new inhabitants.

Synonyms

personality
vscharacter
998 2.7

The set of feelings, thoughts, and actions that make a person unique

is broader, covering people, places, and things beyond inner behavior
identity
vscharacter
660 3.2

The qualities that show who a person or group is

goes beyond what shows who someone is to include all distinguishing qualities
quality
vscharacter
618 1.8

A trait that makes someone or something special

combines such attributes into the whole set of distinct traits
nature
vscharacter
587 3.6

The usual way a person thinks and feels that affects how they behave

applies to people, places, and things not just inner human qualities
feature
vscharacter
566 2.5

A part of something that helps you notice or describe it

is the combined attributes creating the full distinctive profile
trait
vscharacter
226 3.5

A quality of a person's character that shows how they behave

is one element within the wider collection of defining qualities
characteristic
vscharacter
159 3.4

A feature that makes something different from others

collects many such features into an overall distinguishing set
attribute
vscharacter
127 3.8

A quality that a person or thing has

gathers many properties to form the overall distinguishing makeup
mold
vscharacter
  • US
48 6.5

A common style or type that people copy

is the specific bundle of qualities that shape that style or type
individuality
vscharacter
39 4.6

Qualities that make someone or something different from others

is the broader set of distinguishing qualities rather than uniqueness alone
distinctiveness
vscharacter
4 6.0

A quality that makes someone or something stand out from others

is the broader collection of qualities that produce that clear difference
3 4.0

A feature that makes someone or something different from others

contributes to the complete set that creates a clear difference
distinctive feature
vscharacter
2 4.1

A clear quality that makes a person or thing different

adds to the overall collection of traits forming the whole set
lineament
vscharacter
  • Literature
1 9.9

Distinctive lines or shapes on a face that show how it looks

extends beyond visual marks to include inner and overall qualities
unique trait
vscharacter
1 3.7

A quality that makes a person or thing stand out

is part of the larger set creating a full distinctive makeup

Antonyms

31 4.6

A quality that people or things share

uniformity
  • Specialized
18 4.6

The state of being the same in all parts

Idioms

Not how a person usually behaves

Compounds

The most important person in a story like a book or movie

A person who speaks in court about another person's good character and honesty

15 7.3

Hurts someone's reputation on purpose by spreading false or harmful stories

A person created by an author for a story like a book or film

An actor who plays memorable supporting roles, often unusual characters

A letter from someone who knows a person well that says they are honest and reliable for a future employer

A person who is interesting and unusual in a lively way

A character in a book or film who many people love

A person who is not real and appears in a story, book, or film

character set
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A group of letters, numbers, and symbols used for writing and showing text

character reference
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A text code that tells a web page to show a special character like é

control character
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A hidden computer symbol used to tell a program how to show or move text

character printer
  • Specialized
5.7

A machine that prints letters one at a time

6.9

A printer that prints one letter or number at a time instead of a whole line

check character
  • Specialized
7.1

An extra digit or letter added to the end of a code to find reading errors

epicene character
  • Literature
9.9

A character who looks or acts like both a man and a woman

A written letter that shows a sound in a language

ASCII character
  • Specialized
4.8

A basic letter, number, symbol, or control code like newline that computers store as a standard number

ASCII character set
  • Specialized
5.2

A set of 128 basic computer characters for letters, numbers, symbols, and control codes

7.4

A computer character typed with the control key that tells a program to make a new line or tab

backspace character
  • Specialized
3.9

A code or key that moves the cursor one space left to erase the last thing typed

A person who feels very close to a fictional character and sees themselves in that character

8.5

Thinking you are the most important person in most situations

A character in a game controlled by the game, not a player

7.4

A person who repeats the same words or actions without thinking

primary sex character
  • Specialized
8.8

Body parts used for having babies, like genitals, that show if someone is male or female

7.4

A physical feature that differs between males and females, like body hair or a deep voice

sex character
  • Specialized
7.0

A physical or mental trait typical of one sex

A woman in a story shown as untidy and often having many sexual partners

unit character
  • Specialized
9.2

A body feature that is controlled by one gene and is either present or absent

vixen character
  • Literature
8.4

A woman in stories or films who uses charm and looks to attract and influence others

A person in a story who is amusingly odd and playful

How Distinctive

character
279 2.3
personality
998 2.7
trait
226 3.5
feature
566 2.5

Surface Forms

character singular
characters plural

Etymology

The word character comes from the old Greek kharaktēr, meaning 'a mark' or 'stamp'. So the character of a person, place, or thing is the set of marks or features that make it different and easy to recognise.