Attributes — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈa-trə-ˌbyüt/ (noun) /ə-ˈtri-ˌbyüt/ (verb) at·tri·bute

Meaning & Definition of Attributes

Attributes (noun)

  1. a quality, character, or characteristic ascribed to someone or something
  2. an object closely associated with or belonging to a specific person, thing, or office; especially, such an object used for identification in painting or sculpture
  3. a word ascribing a quality; especially, adjective

Attributes (verb)

  1. to explain (something) by indicating a cause
  2. to regard as a characteristic of a person or thing
  3. to reckon as made or originated in an indicated fashion

Attributes (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to explain (something) as being the result of something else

    "attributed the quick rescue to the well-trained police force"

    similar: accredits, ascribes, chalks up, credits, imputes, lays, puts down
    related: blames, charges, fathers (on), imputes (to), pins (on), assigns, refers, associates, attaches, connects, links

  2. to give the reason for or cause of

    "a psychotherapist who's a little too quick to attribute every emotional problem or character defect to an unhappy childhood"

    similar: accounts (for), explains, explains away, rationalizes
    related: condones, excuses, forgives, justifies, absolves, acquits, exculpates, exonerates, vindicates

Attributes (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind

    "list the attributes of a mammal"

    similar: affections, attributions, characteristics, characters, criteria, diagnostics, differentiae, features, fingerprints, hallmarks, markers, marks, notes, particularities, peculiarities, points, properties, qualities, specifics, stamps, touches, traits
    related: badges, indications, signs, emblems, symbols, tokens, charms, graces, excellences, merits, virtues, eccentricities, idiosyncrasies, oddities, quirks, individualities, singularities

Related Entry: Attribute (verb)

Attribute is a different word from Attributes. The synonyms below are for attribute, not for attributes.

  1. to explain (something) as being the result of something else

    "attributed the quick rescue to the well-trained police force"

    similar: accredit, ascribe, chalk up, credit, impute, lay, put down
    related: blame, charge, father (on), impute (to), pin (on), assign, refer, associate, attach, connect, link

  2. to give the reason for or cause of

    "a psychotherapist who's a little too quick to attribute every emotional problem or character defect to an unhappy childhood"

    similar: account (for), explain, explain away, rationalize
    related: condone, excuse, forgive, justify, absolve, acquit, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

Related Entry: Attribute (noun)

Attribute is a different word from Attributes. The synonyms below are for attribute, not for attributes.

  1. something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind

    "list the attributes of a mammal"

    similar: affection, attribution, character, characteristic, criterion, diagnostic, differentia, feature, fingerprint, hallmark, mark, marker, note, particularity, peculiarity, point, property, quality, specific, stamp, touch, trait
    related: badge, indication, sign, emblem, symbol, token, charm, grace, excellence, merit, virtue, eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, oddity, quirk, individuality, singularity, uniqueness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Attributes

The most common words with a similar meaning to Attributes:

accredits, ascribes, chalks up, credits, imputes, lays, puts down, accounts (for), explains, explains away, rationalizes, affections, attributions, characteristics, characters, criteria, diagnostics, differentiae, features, fingerprints, hallmarks, markers, marks, notes, particularities, peculiarities, points, properties, qualities, specifics, stamps, touches, traits

Related Words for Attributes

blames, charges, fathers (on), imputes (to), pins (on), assigns, refers, associates, attaches, connects, links, condones, excuses, forgives, justifies, absolves, acquits, exculpates, exonerates, vindicates, badges, indications, signs, emblems, symbols, tokens, charms, graces, excellences, merits

Word Forms of Attributes

Inflections: attributed, attributing

Derived words: attributable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Attributes

Middle English, from Latin attributus, past participle of attribuere to attribute, from ad- + tribuere to bestow tribute

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Attributes

What does "Attributes" mean?

"Attributes" means a quality, character, or characteristic ascribed to someone or something. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a quality, character, or characteristic ascribed to someone or something. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Attributes"?

Other words for "Attributes" include accredits, ascribes, chalks up, credits, imputes, lays, puts down and accounts (for). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Attributes" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Attributes"?

There are 70 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Attributes". Common alternatives include accredits, ascribes, chalks up, credits, imputes, lays, puts down, accounts (for), explains and explains away.

How do you use "Attributes" in a sentence?

Examples of "Attributes" in a sentence: "attributed the quick rescue to the well-trained police force"; "a psychotherapist who's a little too quick to attribute every emotional problem or character defect to an unhappy childhood"; "list the attributes of a mammal".

Is "Attributes" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Attributes" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Attributes"?

"Attributes" is pronounced /ˈa-trə-ˌbyüt/ as a noun and /ə-ˈtri-ˌbyüt/ as a verb and divided into syllables as at·tri·bute.

What is the origin of the word "Attributes"?

"Attributes" comes from Middle English, from Latin attributus, past participle of attribuere to attribute, from ad- + tribuere to bestow tribute. First known use: 15th century.

What is another word for "Attributes" meaning "to explain (something) as being the result of something else"?

When "Attributes" (verb) means to explain (something) as being the result of something else, synonyms include accredits, ascribes, chalks up, credits, imputes and lays.