characterization
noun
char·ac·ter·i·za·tion
ËŒker-ik-t(É™-)rÉ™-ˈzÄ-shÉ™n 
ËŒka-rik-
: the act of characterizing
especially
: the artistic representation (as in fiction or drama) of human character or motives
the author's characterization of the boy as someone who wanted to be accepted by others
Examples of characterization in a Sentence
The reporter was criticized for his characterization of the people of the town as poor and uneducated.
News reporting requires accurate characterization.
The class discussed the author's characterization of the boy as someone who wanted to be accepted by others.
The story has good characterization.
Recent Examples on the Web
City officials dispute this characterization.
—
Monique John, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Iran's leadership, meanwhile, has rejected that characterization.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
But watching Ready or Not 2, which comes from returning directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, I was consumed with how quaint its characterization of its villains was.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Huang emphatically disagrees with these characterizations.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for characterization
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Monique John, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Iran's leadership, meanwhile, has rejected that characterization.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
But watching Ready or Not 2, which comes from returning directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, I was consumed with how quaint its characterization of its villains was.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Huang emphatically disagrees with these characterizations.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for characterization
Cite this Entry
“Characterization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/characterization. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
characterization
noun
char·ac·ter·i·za·tion
ËŒkar-ik-tÉ™-rÉ™-ˈzÄ-shÉ™n
1
: the act of characterizing
2
: the creation of characters (as in a book or play)
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