* As an adjective:
* "The characteristic smell of fresh-baked bread filled the kitchen."
* "Her characteristic optimism helped her through difficult times."
* "A characteristic feature of this species is its bright blue plumage."
* As a noun:
* "One characteristic of a good leader is the ability to inspire others."
* "The museum housed a collection of characteristics from different historical eras."
* "Researchers are studying the characteristics of the newly discovered planet."
* In a phrase:
* "It was characteristic of her to apologize even when she wasn't at fault."
* "The company's characteristic focus on customer satisfaction led to its success."
Remember, the meaning of "characteristic" can be slightly different depending on the context.