Characteristic
Characteristic noun - Something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind.
Usage example: the ability to fashion tools and other characteristics that distinguish human beings from other animals
Trait is a synonym for characteristic in quality topic. In some cases you can use "Trait" instead a noun "Characteristic", when it comes to topics like feature, attribute, peculiarity, property. popular alternative
Trait
Trait noun - Something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind.
Usage example: honesty is one of her defining traits
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Synonyms for Trait
Characteristic is a synonym for trait in attribute topic. You can use "Characteristic" instead a noun "Trait", if it concerns topics such as peculiarity, feature, property, role. popular alternative
Nearby Word: traitor
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- habit and characteristic
- habit and trait
- quality and characteristic
- quality and trait
- attribute and characteristic
- attribute and trait
- character and characteristic
- character and trait
- mark and characteristic
- mark and trait
- peculiarity and characteristic
- peculiarity and trait
- feature and characteristic
- feature and trait
How words are described
| good | good characteristic | good trait |
| physical | physical characteristic | physical trait |
| notable | notable characteristic | notable trait |
| special | special characteristic | special trait |
| Other adjectives: distinctive, particular, common, natural, distinguishing, single, prominent, main, important, inherent, key, unique, major, dominant, sole, general, negative, unusual, primary, recurring, racial, redeeming, defining. | ||
Both words in one sentence
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The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare.
Source: Humans Are Morons - In A Song of Ice and Fire, certain members of House Targaryen have a physical tolerance to high temperatures and fire; also, they all share a characteristic light-silver hair and violet eyes, a trait of the peoples of Old Valyria.
Source: Shared Unusual Trait -
Most always, the trait/action becomes completely outlandish and it becomes their defining characteristic.
Source: Flanderization
Cite this Source
Trait and Characteristic. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/characteristic/trait
Characteristic & Trait. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/characteristic/trait>.
Trait or Characteristic. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/characteristic/trait.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "characteristic" and "trait" have occurred on timeline