Characteristic Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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characteristic
[หkรฆr.ษk.tษหrษชs.tษชk ]
Definitions
personality traits
Characteristic refers to a feature or quality that is typical of a person, place, or thing. It is a distinguishing trait that sets someone or something apart from others.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| characteristic |
This word is often used to describe features or qualities that are typical of someone or something, showing distinct traits or patterns.
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| distinctive |
This word highlights something that clearly distinguishes one thing from others, often used when referring to something that stands out due to its unusual or special quality.
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| typical |
This word is used to describe qualities or behaviors that are expected and representative of a person, group, or thing; what is normal or usual in given circumstances.
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| unique |
This word emphasizes a quality or feature that is one of a kind, without an equal or equivalent; often used positively to highlight specialness or rarity.
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Examples of usage
- He is known for his characteristic generosity.
- One characteristic of a good leader is the ability to inspire others.
- Her artistic characteristic is her attention to detail.
statistics
In statistics, a characteristic is a measurable feature or property of a population or sample. It is used to describe the data and can be used to differentiate between different groups.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| characteristic |
Used to describe a distinguishing quality or property that is typical of a person, place, or thing.
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| attribute |
Often used when referring to a quality or feature regarded as a part of someone or something's nature, especially in a more formal or technical context.
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| trait |
Commonly used in reference to a distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically of a person or an animal. It often implies an inherent quality.
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| feature |
Used to point out a prominent part or aspect of something, often when talking about physical or noticeable qualities. It can also refer to elements in software or technology.
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Examples of usage
- The most common characteristic used in demographics is age.
- In market research, income level is an important characteristic to consider.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Science
- In biology, characteristics are traits that organisms inherit from their parents, like eye color or height.
- Chemical elements have characteristics that define their behavior, like reactivity and atomic structure.
Psychology
- Personality traits are a set of characteristics that describe an individual's consistent patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior.
- The Big Five personality traits model includes openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, which are key characteristics used to describe personality.
Literature
- In storytelling, a character's traits can determine their actions and influence the plot, such as bravery or deceitfulness.
- Authors craft characteristics to create relatable or memorable characters, making them stand out in readers' minds.
Technology
- In computer science, software systems have various characteristics like speed, efficiency, and user-friendliness that define their performance.
- Hardware characteristics, such as storage capacity and processing speed, play crucial roles in determining a device's capabilities.
Origin of 'characteristic'
Main points about word origin
- The word originates from the Greek word 'kharakter,' meaning 'a distinctive mark' or 'to engrave.'
- In Latin, 'characteristicus' means 'pertaining to a mark,' emphasizing the unique aspects of someone or something.
The word 'characteristic' originates from the Greek word 'kharktฤristikos', meaning 'of or for marking'. It entered the English language in the 17th century and has been used to describe distinguishing features ever since.
See also: character, characteristically, characteristics, characterizable, characterization, characterize, characters, uncharacteristically.