noncharacter

1 of 2

noun

non·​char·​ac·​ter ˌnän-ˈker-ik-tər 

-ˈka-rik-

1

: a person or thing that is not a character

distinguishing characters from noncharacters in scanned text

2

: a character in a dramatic or literary work who is not important or interesting

She's onstage the rest of the time as the ship's communications officer, one of the background noncharacters.

—Sam Hurwitt

noncharacter

2 of 2

adjective

: not of, relating to, being, or involving a character or characters

a noncharacter narrator

noncharacter animation

also : not associated with a character (as from a movie) for product promotion

noncharacter toys/branding

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1922, in the meaning defined above