distinguishing characteristic
3
4.0
- noun
- /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ ˌkɛrɪktəˈrɪstɪk/
- I shall define this set of distinguishing characteristics as culture.
- one of the distinguishing characteristics
- most important distinguishing characteristics
Examples
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One distinguishing characteristic of penguins is their ability to swim swiftly in cold waters.
-
The definitions of Europe and its distinguishing characteristics have varied over time.
Academic text (2002) -
Table 1 sets out the distinguishing characteristics of modern political systems.
Academic text (1993) -
Another distinguishing characteristic of the Court beat is the legal background of many reporters.
Academic text (2000) -
In national elections, gender has not emerged as a major distinguishing characteristic.
Academic text (1990) -
Faculty engagement in research of one type or another is an additional distinguishing characteristic of academic surgeons.
Academic text (2017) -
One of the most important distinguishing characteristics of the Arab lobby is that it has no grassroots support.
Academic text (2010) -
Table 1 summarizes the distinguishing characteristics of the Anxiety Disorder groups.
Academic text (1991) -
Purposeful selection was used to choose sites based on distinguishing characteristics, including socio-economic status and geographic location of the high schools.
Academic text (2015) -
Psychiatric stories also work to persuade people to alter their habitual thoughts and behaviors—another distinguishing characteristic.
Academic text (1995)
Synonyms
655
2.5
A part of something that helps you notice or describe it
427
1.8
A trait that makes someone or something special
215
3.5
A quality of a person's character that shows how they behave
214
2.3
The qualities that make a person, place, or thing special
186
3.4
A feature that makes something different from others
135
3.8
A quality that a person or thing has
49
3.6
A typical feature that shows what a person, place, or thing is like
40
3.3
A quality of something, for example how it looks or works
38
4.7
A typical feature that shows what someone or something is like
13
6.1
An unusual feature that makes someone or something different
4
6.0
A quality that makes someone or something stand out from others
3
7.2
A quality that makes one product, person, or idea different
3
4.1
A clear quality that makes a person or thing different
1
3.7
A quality that makes a person or thing stand out
1
3.9
A special style that makes someone or something stand out
1
9.9
A feature that shows how one species is different from others in the same group
A clear feature that people notice in someone's work or appearance
Antonyms
How Distinctive
49
3.6
3
4.0
655
2.5
44
3.8
215
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a quality or feature that makes someone or something different from others' is directly derivable from combining 'distinguish' (to make different) with 'characteristic' (a distinguishing quality). This is a straightforward adjective‑noun composition found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand the phrase.
Etymology
Distinguishing characteristic is like a bright badge that points to what makes someone or something stand out. The word distinguishing means showing a difference and characteristic means a feature, so the phrase means 'a quality or feature that makes someone or something different from others'.