To characterize something means to describe its main qualities or features in a way that captures what makes it distinctive. When a book review characterizes a novel as “darkly funny,” it's pointing out the most important trait that defines the story's tone. When a scientist characterizes a new species of beetle, she's identifying the key features that make it different from other beetles.

You can also characterize people by describing what makes them who they are. A teacher might characterize one student as curious and determined, another as creative but easily distracted. These descriptions highlight each person's defining traits.

The word often appears when someone is trying to sum up the essence of something complex. A historian might characterize the 1920s as an era of rapid change and cultural excitement. A coach might characterize last season as frustrating but educational. In each case, the speaker is choosing the most important qualities to capture the whole picture.

Notice that how you characterize something shapes how others will see it. If you characterize a challenging math problem as impossible, your classmates might give up before trying. If you characterize it as tough but solvable, you've framed it completely differently. Characterizing is powerful because it tells people what to pay attention to.