characterize

Other spellings

• (UK) characterise

Word parts

character + -ize

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈkɛrəktəraɪz/ or /ˈkærəktəraɪz/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈkærəktəraɪz/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: char‧ac‧ter‧ize

Verb

Plain form characterize

Third-person singular characterizes

Past tense characterized

Past participle characterized

Present participle characterizing

1. To see someone or something a particular way (often negative).
2. To determine the characteristics of someone or something.