flat character
One-dimensional fictional figure
A flat character is a fictional figure with minimal psychological depth—typically built around a single trait or purpose.
Such characters don't develop or surprise; they exist to serve the plot or highlight aspects of more complex characters.
The foil, the comic relief, the loyal sidekick: The villain's henchmen were flat characters, interchangeable and forgettable.
Contrasts with round character.
- one-dimensionalWithout depth or complexity
- staticWithout motion or change
- cardboardRigid paper for containers
- stick figureSimplified human drawing
- cookie cutterPastry-shaping implement
stereotype · red shirt · shallow · undeveloped · predictable · background · window dressing · sidekick · foil · trope · cliché · unchanging · simple · minor · forgettable · paper-thin · wooden · type
- storytellingstorytelling, story, tale, narrative, narrator
- character typesprotagonist, hero, antagonist, villain, heroes
- characterizationprotagonist, trait, antagonist, hero, villain
- writing flawstypos, spelling errors, plot hole, plot holes, cliche
- fictionfiction, novel, novels, novella, novellas
- charactersprotagonist, antagonist, hero, villain, heroine