characterization

noun

char·​ac·​ter·​i·​za·​tion ˌker-ik-t(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌka-rik-

: 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

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 on the Web

Critics disputed this characterization of the program. —Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 27 Dec. 2024

Starbucks United contests those figures as a disingenuous characterization of its proposal, the union told ABC News. MORE: Is the Teamsters protest at Amazon disrupting holiday deliveries? —Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Dec. 2024

Hsu’s performance and Ruby’s characterization as a whole are indeed intensely off-putting, in ways both intentional and not. —Alison Herman, Variety, 19 Dec. 2024

But a Biden administration official, who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity, disputed the characterization. —Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see character entry 1

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing characterization

• self-characterization

Kids Definition

characterization

noun

char·​ac·​ter·​i·​za·​tion ˌkar-ik-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

1

: the act of characterizing

2

: the creation of characters (as in a book or play)