1. the act of describing the distinctive qualities or features of someone or something
2. the way an author presents and develops characters in a story
Usage: literary
3. the process of determining the properties or composition of a substance
Usage: scientific; technical

Examples

• The witness gave a detailed characterization of the suspect.
• Her characterization of the villain was both frightening and sympathetic.
• The novel’s strength lies in its rich characterization of the main characters.
• The scientist’s characterization of the new compound took several months.
• His characterization of the situation as hopeless was overly pessimistic.
• The characterization of proteins requires advanced laboratory techniques.
• The author’s characterization brings the historical figures to life.