Characteristic
Characteristic adjective - Serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group.
Usage example: the characteristic taste of licorice
Specific is a synonym for characteristic in typical topic. In some cases you can use "Specific" instead the word "Characteristic" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like peculiarity, feature, distinctive. popular alternative
Specific
Specific noun - Something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind.
Usage example: the two submissions differ only in certain specifics
Characteristic is a synonym for specific in particular topic. You can use "Characteristic" instead the word "Specific" as an adjective or a noun, if it concerns topics such as peculiarity, feature, typical. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- feature and characteristic
- feature and specific
- individual and characteristic
- individual and specific
- special and characteristic
- special and specific
- distinctive and characteristic
- distinctive and specific
- particular and characteristic
- particular and specific
- point and characteristic
- point and specific
- typical and characteristic
- typical and specific
Both words in one sentence
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Given they only played an in-person role in one episode, it it hard to say what is characteristic of the Pakleds as a whole, and what was characteristic of the specific group of Pakleds in their introductory and sole speaking appearance episode (Samaritan Snare).
Source: Planet of Hats - The characteristic shape of formal shoes, putting the longest part in the center, causes a specific deformity common in American women where the big toe curves downwards and the little toe curves upwards.
Source: Fashion Hurts -
Characteristic tests, special abilities and features unique to each faction, weapon-specific rules, terrain effects, and other such actions also influence the progress of each phase.
Source: Tabletop Game / Warhammer 40,000
Cite this Source
Specific and Characteristic. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/characteristic/specific
Characteristic & Specific. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/characteristic/specific>.
Specific or Characteristic. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/characteristic/specific.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "characteristic" and "specific" have occurred on timeline