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characterization

/kɛrɪktərəˈzeɪʃɪn/
/kɛrɪktərəˈzeɪʃɪn/
IPA guide

Other forms: characterizations

If you write a play portraying your workplace as comically disorganized and woefully inefficient, you better hope it makes money, because your boss may fire you for this characterization. The word characterization describes how something is represented.

When you break apart the word characterization it’s easy to figure out what it means. Character tells you that this word will likely involve the qualities a person or thing has. The -ization ending means it is a noun — the act of doing something. You can use the word characterization to describe the depiction of a character in a book or a movie, or also as a way a particular person, group, or event is portrayed, such as a journalist’s characterization of a political enemy.

Definitions of characterization
  1. noun
    the act of describing distinctive characteristics or essential features
    synonyms: characterisation
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    type of:
    description
    the act of describing something
  2. noun
    a graphic or vivid verbal description
    “the pamphlet contained brief characterizations of famous Vermonters”
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    types:
    epithet
    descriptive word or phrase
    portrait, portraiture, portrayal
    a word picture of a person's appearance and character
    type of:
    description, verbal description
    a statement that represents something in words
  3. noun
    acting the part of a character on stage; dramatically representing the character by speech and action and gesture
    see moresee less
    types:
    impression
    an impressionistic portrayal of a person
    character, part, persona, role, theatrical role
    an actor's portrayal of someone in a play, film, etc...
    bit part, minor role
    a small role
    heavy
    a serious (or tragic) role in a play
    hero
    the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem
    ingenue
    the role of an innocent artless young woman in a play
    name part, title role
    the role of the character after whom the play is named
    heroine
    the main good female character in a work of fiction
    baddie, villain
    the principal bad character in a film or work of fiction
    cameo
    a brief appearance by a well-known actor in a movie or play
    type of:
    acting, performing, playacting, playing
    the performance of a part or role in a drama
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘characterization'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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