What does "character" mean?
A being involved in the action of a story; a persona.
Character
/ˈkæɹɪktə/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A being involved in the action of a story; a persona.
- Grammar: character is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: a glyph, abnormal, accent, accent mark.
- Usage evidence: The mandatory character of schooling is rarely analyzed in the multitude of works dedicated to the study of the various ways to develop within children the desire to learn.
How to use "character"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "character" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "character" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "character" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "character" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "character" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "a glyph" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "character", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A being involved in the action of a story; a persona. countable
"[I]n a tragedy, or epick poem, the hero of the piece must be advanced foremost to the view of the reader or spectator; he must outshine the rest of all the characters; he must appear the prince of them, like the sun in the Copernican system, encompassed with the less noble planets …"
- 2 (genetics) an attribute (structural or functional) that is determined by a gene or group of genes wordnet
- 3 A distinguishing feature; characteristic; trait; nature; phene. countable
"A single locus governing the petal colour character was detected on the linkage group A2."
- 4 the inherent complex of attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions wordnet
- 5 A complex of traits marking a person, group, breed, or type. countable, uncountable
"A study of the suspect's character and his cast iron alibi ruled him out."
Show 19 more definitions
- 6 a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something wordnet
- 7 Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; moral strength. uncountable
"He has a great deal of character."
- 8 an actor's portrayal of someone in a play wordnet
- 9 A unique or extraordinary individual; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits, especially charisma. countable
"Julius Caesar is a great historical character."
- 10 a formal recommendation by a former employer to a potential future employer describing the person's qualifications and dependability wordnet
- 11 A written or printed symbol, or letter. countable
"It were much to be wished that there were throughout the world but one sort of character for each letter to express it to the eye."
- 12 a written symbol that is used to represent speech wordnet
- 13 Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the particular form of letters used by a person or people. countable, dated
"an inscription in the Runic character"
- 14 an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story) wordnet
- 15 A secret cipher; a way of writing in code. countable, dated
- 16 a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities) wordnet
- 17 One of the basic elements making up a text file or string: a code representing a printing character or a control character. countable
"We'll start at the beginning, with the basic building blocks not just of emoji, nor even digital communication, but of all written language: characters and character sets."
- 18 good repute wordnet
- 19 A person or individual, especially one who is unknown. countable, informal
"We saw a shady character slinking out of the office with some papers."
- 20 An assignment of complex numbers to each element of a group, in particular a finite abelian group. More precisely, a group homomorphism into the group of units of a field (usually ℂ). countable
- 21 Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty. countable
"in the miserable character of a slave"
- 22 The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation. countable, dated
"a man's character for truth and veracity"
- 23 A reference given to a servant, attesting to their behaviour, competence, etc. countable, dated
- 24 Personal appearance. countable, obsolete
Verb
- 1 To write (using characters); to describe. obsolete
"O Roſalind, theſe Trees ſhall be my Bookes, / And in their barkes my thoughts Ile charracter, / That euery eye, which in this Forreſt lookes, / Shall ſee thy vertue witneſt euery where."
- 2 engrave or inscribe characters on wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The mandatory character of schooling is rarely analyzed in the multitude of works dedicated to the study of the various ways to develop within children the desire to learn."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "character"?
Common synonyms include: a glyph, abnormal, accent, accent mark, acclaim, actor.
How do you use "character" in a sentence?
The mandatory character of schooling is rarely analyzed in the multitude of works dedicated to the study of the various ways to develop within children the desire to learn.
How do you pronounce "character"?
Pronounced /ˈkæɹɪktə/.
Etymology
From Middle English caracter, from Old French caractere, from Latin character, from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr, “type, nature, character”), from χαράσσω (kharássō, “I engrave”). Doublet of charakter.