Characteristics: meaning, definitions and examples

🔍
Add to dictionary

characteristics

 

[ ˌker-ək-tə-ˈri-stiks ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

personality traits

Characteristics are the qualities or features that distinguish one person or thing from another. These can include physical attributes, behavior patterns, or emotional tendencies.

Synonyms

attributes, qualities, traits

Examples of usage

  • He has many positive characteristics such as kindness and empathy.
  • One of the characteristics of a good leader is the ability to communicate effectively.
  • Her artistic characteristics are evident in her paintings.
  • The characteristics of a diamond include hardness and clarity.
  • Each individual has their own unique characteristics.
Context #2 | Noun

scientific description

In science, characteristics refer to the distinguishing traits or properties of an organism or object that can be observed or measured. These characteristics are often used for classification or identification purposes.

Synonyms

attributes, features, traits

Examples of usage

  • The genetic characteristics of a species determine its physical appearance.
  • The characteristics of a chemical compound can be analyzed in a laboratory.
  • Scientists study the characteristics of different ecosystems to understand their biodiversity.
  • Understanding the characteristics of a material is essential for its practical applications.
  • The diagnostic characteristics of a disease help doctors make accurate diagnoses.

Translations

Translations of the word "characteristics" in other languages:

🇵🇹 características

🇮🇳 विशेषताएँ

🇩🇪 Eigenschaften

🇮🇩 karakteristik

🇺🇦 характеристики

🇵🇱 cechy

🇯🇵 特徴 (とくちょう)

🇫🇷 caractéristiques

🇪🇸 características

🇹🇷 özellikler

🇰🇷 특징 (특성)

🇸🇦 خصائص

🇨🇿 charakteristiky

🇸🇰 charakteristiky

🇨🇳 特征 (tèzhēng)

🇸🇮 značilnosti

🇮🇸 einkenni

🇰🇿 сипаттамалар

🇬🇪 მახასიათებლები

🇦🇿 xüsusiyyətlər

🇲🇽 características

Etymology

The word 'characteristics' originated from the Middle French word 'caractéristique' and the Latin word 'characteristicus', both of which mean 'a distinguishing feature'. The concept of characteristics has been fundamental in fields such as philosophy, psychology, and biology, where the study of distinguishing traits plays a crucial role in understanding individuals, organisms, and objects.

See also: character, characteristic, characteristically, characterizable, characterization, characterize, characters, uncharacteristically.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,166, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.