characteristic
gb/kˌɛɹɪktɚˈɪstɪk/ us/kˌɛɹɪktɚˈɪstɪk/
B1
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
A typical quality or feature
A special quality or feature that makes a person or thing different from others.
Usage pattern:
the characteristic of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'characteristic' (a countable noun) with 'character' meaning personality in general.
Synonyms
feature (More general; can refer to any aspect or part, not necessarily distinguishing.)
|
trait (Often used for personal qualities, especially in psychology.)
Antonyms
flaw (A negative quality, in contrast to a neutral or positive characteristic.)
Collocations
main characteristic
|distinctive characteristic
|common characteristic
|physical characteristic
|shared characteristic
Themes
description
|identity
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Honesty is an important characteristic of a good leader.
- One characteristic of this plant is its bright red flowers.
- A quick temper was a characteristic he inherited from his father.
- The main characteristic of the software is its ease of use.
Learner examples
- Kindness is a good characteristic in a friend.
- A giraffe’s long neck is a special characteristic.
- This phone’s main characteristic is its strong battery.
- Patience is a helpful characteristic for teachers.
adjective
B1
property
2
Typical of something or someone
Showing the normal or usual qualities of a person or thing.
Usage pattern:
characteristic of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'characteristic' (adj.) with 'characterized', which is used in passive constructions like 'is characterized by'.
Synonyms
typical (Very close in meaning, but more general and common in everyday speech.)
|
distinctive (Stresses uniqueness or difference rather than typicality.)
Antonyms
uncharacteristic (Means not typical of someone or something.)
Collocations
characteristic style
|characteristic behavior
|characteristic smile
Themes
description
|identity
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She spoke with the characteristic confidence of an experienced lawyer.
- The painter’s use of bright colors is characteristic of his early work.
- The sudden rain is characteristic of the region’s climate.
Learner examples
- Her big smile is characteristic of her.
- Rain in April is characteristic of this city.
- Speaking loudly is characteristic of him.
Grammar
Dictionary form
characteristic
IPA
GB/kˌɛɹɪktɚˈɪstɪk/
US/kˌɛɹɪktɚˈɪstɪk/
Syllables & stress
char - ac - ter - ist - ic (5 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ter)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: characteristic
Noun
- Base: characteristic
- Plural: characteristics
Word family
Forms
characteristics
noun
Core family
character
noun B1
characterize
verb B2
Related words
characteristically
adverb
characterization
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
uncharacteristic
adjective C1
uncharacteristically
adverb
Expressions
as is characteristic of
1/ˈæz ˈɪz kˌɛɹɪktɚˈɪstɪk əv/
fixed phrase
Being typical for someone or something
Used to say that something is normal for a person or thing.
Examples
- As is characteristic of her, she helped without being asked.
- As is characteristic of the region, the summer was hot and dry.
in characteristic fashion
1/ˈɪn kˌɛɹɪktɚˈɪstɪk fˈæʃən/
fixed phrase
In a typical manner
In the way that is usual for someone or something.
Examples
- In characteristic fashion, he arrived late to the meeting.
- She handled the crisis in characteristic fashion—calmly and decisively.