characteristic, individual, peculiar, distinctive mean indicating a special quality or identity. characteristic applies to something that distinguishes or identifies a person or thing or class.

CHARACTERISTIC definition: Also characteristical. pertaining to, constituting, or indicating the character or peculiar quality of a person or thing; typical; distinctive. See examples of characteristic used in a …

CHARACTERISTIC definition: 1. a typical or noticeable quality of someone or something: 2. typical of a person or thing: 3. a…. Learn more.

Definition of characteristic noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Being a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing; distinctive: heard my friend's characteristic laugh; the stripes that are characteristic of the zebra.

If something is a characteristic of someone or something, it is a feature you would expect. A characteristic of classical-style architecture is large stone columns.

A quality or feature that is characteristic of someone or something is one which is often seen in them and seems typical of them. ...the absence of strife between the generations that was so …

a quality (of someone or something) that is typical or special: She had the high forehead that is a characteristic of that family. char•ac•ter•is•ti•cal•ly, adv.

There are ten meanings listed in OED's entry for the word characteristic, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Jan 17, 2026 · characteristic (plural characteristics) A distinguishing feature of a person or thing, a part of mental or physical behavior.