Characteristic/ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Identification Characteristic as an adjective can describe cultural or regional features that are unique. Sushi is a characteristic dish of Japanese cuisine. Pro Tip 2/3Describing People Use 'characteristic' to highlight unique habits or qualities of a person. Her laughter is characteristic; you know it's her from afar. Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Positive Being characteristic doesn't mean it's good—it simply emphasizes distinctiveness. Unfortunately, heavy rain is characteristic of the city's weather.