characteristics

[kar-ik-tuh-ris-tiks] / ˌkær ɪk təˈrɪs tɪks /

NOUN

typical feature, trait

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aspect attribute component essence flavor nature peculiarity personality quality style symptom temperament tendency tone virtue

STRONG

affection badge bag bearing bent caliber cast complexion differentia disposition distinction earmark endowment essential faculty frame idiosyncrasy inclination individuality lineament mannerism mark mood originality particularity point property singularity specialty streak stripe thing thumbprint tinge trademark turn

Antonyms

STRONGEST

whole

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There is a combination of factors at work to explain the shift in gold’s behavioral characteristics.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

"It defines the female sex without taking into account the biological specificities of intersex individuals, whose sexual characteristics present natural variations, leading to a reductive and potentially stigmatising approach," ⁠claimed French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

"The main argument for obtaining PDO status for feta was that the milk comes from animals that graze freely in pastures full of native herbs, which gives the milk unique characteristics," said Onasoglou.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

When cities and states “openly discriminate in hiring on the basis of race and sex and other characteristics, that’s illegal and we should take it head on.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Polling with Confidence Estimating characteristics of a population, such as the percentage who favor a certain candidate or a particular brand of dog food, is, like hypothesis testing, simple in principle.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos