A character recognition device, comprising: a storage means storing a plurality of dictionary databases corresponding to each of a plurality of degradation levels, said plurality of dictionary databases being generated from images wherein an original character image has been degraded to meet the degradation levels of the dictionary it belongs to; an image input means that receives input of images; an extraction means that extracts character images from said images; a usage order determination means that determines a usage order for the plurality of dictionary databases on the basis of a calculated degradation degree of an extracted character image, wherein the usage order determination means pre-stores relationships between degradation degrees of the character images and the degradation levels of the dictionary databases, calculates, according to a predefined method, a degradation degree of the extracted character image and matches it to a degradation level according to the relationships, and determines the usage order as first using the dictionary database of the matched degradation level corresponding to the calculated degradation degree and then continuing to sequentially use dictionary databases corresponding to degradation levels adjacent in degradation level to the matched degradation level; and a character recognition means that uses dictionary databases in accordance with said usage order, recognizes characters included in the extracted character images and, if recognition results do not fulfil prescribed conditions, performs character recognition using the dictionary database next in said usage order, if recognition results fulfil the prescribed conditions, outputs the recognition results without performing recognition using the dictionary database next in said usage order. a storage means storing a plurality of dictionary databases corresponding to each of a plurality of degradation levels, said plurality of dictionary databases being generated from images wherein an original character image has been degraded to meet the degradation levels of the dictionary it belongs to; an image input means that receives input of images; an extraction means that extracts character images from said images; a usage order determination means that determines a usage order for the plurality of dictionary databases on the basis of a calculated degradation degree of an extracted character image, wherein the usage order determination means pre-stores relationships between degradation degrees of the character images and the degradation levels of the dictionary databases, calculates, according to a predefined method, a degradation degree of the extracted character image and matches it to a degradation level according to the relationships, and determines the usage order as first using the dictionary database of the matched degradation level corresponding to the calculated degradation degree and then continuing to sequentially use dictionary databases corresponding to degradation levels adjacent in degradation level to the matched degradation level; and a character recognition means that uses dictionary databases in accordance with said usage order, recognizes characters included in the extracted character images and, if recognition results do not fulfil prescribed conditions, performs character recognition using the dictionary database next in said usage order, if recognition results fulfil the prescribed conditions, outputs the recognition results without performing recognition using the dictionary database next in said usage order.