Characters — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb phrase /ˈker-ik-tər/ (noun) /ˈnän-ˈplā-ər-/ (noun) char·ac·ter

Meaning & Definition of Characters

Characters (noun)

  1. a distinguishing attribute or feature, characteristic
  2. a group or category identified by a distinguishing characteristic
  3. the aggregate of distinctive qualities characteristic of something
  4. npc:
  5. a character in a video game that does not represent and cannot be manipulated by a player
  6. a character in a role-playing board game, card game, or live-action game that is controlled or performed by an organizer, facilitator, or supporting participant
  7. a natural character inherited on an all-or-none basis; especially, one dependent on the presence or absence of a single gene

Characters (verb)

  1. characterize
  2. represent, portray
  3. engrave, inscribe

Characters (phrase)

  1. —sometimes used to refer to a group of people who have important roles in a book, story, or event

Word Forms of Characters

Inflections: charactered, charactering, non-player characters, non-playable characters

Derived words: characterless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Characters

Middle English caracter, from Latin character mark, distinctive quality, from Greek charaktēr, from charassein to scratch, engrave; perhaps akin to Lithuanian žerti to scratch

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Characters

cast of characters

Frequently Asked Questions about Characters

What does "Characters" mean?

"Characters" means a distinguishing attribute or feature, characteristic. As an a noun, a verb and a phrase, it is defined as: a distinguishing attribute or feature, characteristic. It has 11 distinct senses.

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

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

How do you pronounce "Characters"?

"Characters" is pronounced /ˈker-ik-tər/ as a noun and /ˈnän-ˈplā-ər-/ as a noun and divided into syllables as char·ac·ter.

What is the origin of the word "Characters"?

"Characters" comes from Middle English caracter, from Latin character mark, distinctive quality, from Greek charaktēr, from charassein to scratch, engrave; perhaps akin to Lithuanian žerti to scratch. First known use: 14th century.

What does "Characters" mean as a noun?

As a noun, "Characters" means: a distinguishing attribute or feature, characteristic; a group or category identified by a distinguishing characteristic; the aggregate of distinctive qualities characteristic of something.

What does "Characters" mean as a verb?

As a verb, "Characters" means: characterize; represent, portray; engrave, inscribe.

What does "Characters" mean as a phrase?

As a phrase, "Characters" means: —sometimes used to refer to a group of people who have important roles in a book, story, or event.

What are the forms of "Characters"?

The word forms of "Characters" include charactered, charactering, non-player characters and non-playable characters.