# characterize

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈkæɹəktəɹaɪz/ · frequency rank #19,043

## Definitions
1. To depict someone or something a particular way (often negative).
2. To be typical of.
3. To determine the characteristics of.

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin charactērizō, from Ancient Greek χαρακτηρίζω (kharaktērízō, “to designate by a characteristic mark”), from χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr, “a mark, character”). By surface analysis, character + -ize.

## Easily confused with
- **characterized** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/characterize-vs-characterized)
- **characterise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/characterise-vs-characterize)

## Common misspellings (18)
`cahracterize`, `ccharacterize`, `chaarcterize`, `characcterize`, `characetrize`, `characteirze`, `characteriez`, `characterizze`, `characterrize`, `characterzie`, `charactreize`, `charactterize`, `charatcerize`, `charcaterize`, `charracterize`, `chharacterize`, `chraacterize`, `hcaracterize`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/characterize