personality
pur-suh-NA-luh-tih
Personality (noun) means the particular mix of traits, attitudes, and behaviors that makes someone who they are. Example: “She has a warm, outgoing personality.”
noun
1
The particular mix of traits, attitudes, and behaviors that makes someone who they are.
"She has a warm, outgoing personality."
"Their personalities clashed from the very first meeting."
"My brother has a quiet personality, but he is very funny among friends."
2
A famous or well-known person, especially in entertainment or media.
"The show features several TV personalities as guest judges."
"A radio personality opened the new shop and signed autographs."
"Several sporting personalities attended the charity dinner."
How to use personality
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone's character, or a well-known media figure.
Common pairings
strong personality
TV personality
split personality
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Word forms
- Plural
- personalities
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She has a warm, outgoing _____.
Etymology
From Latin personalitas, built from persona ("person") plus the suffix "-itas."
Related words
Rhymes for personality
See all rhymes for personality →Frequently asked questions
What does “personality” mean?
The word “personality” means the particular mix of traits, attitudes, and behaviors that makes someone who they are. In plain terms, someone's character, or a well-known media figure.
How do you pronounce “personality”?
“Personality” is pronounced pur-suh-NA-luh-tih (/ˌpɜɹ.səˈnæ.lə.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “personality” in a sentence?
Here is “personality” used in a sentence: “She has a warm, outgoing personality.”
What part of speech is “personality”?
“Personality” is a noun.
Where does the word “personality” come from?
The word “personality” comes from Latin. From Latin personalitas, built from persona ("person") plus the suffix "-itas.".
Is “personality” a common word?
“Personality” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “personality” have?
“Personality” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the particular mix of traits, attitudes, and behaviors that makes someone who they are.
What is the difference between personality and character?
Personality is the outward mix of traits and behaviors that others notice — how outgoing, calm, or witty someone seems. Character runs deeper, describing a person's moral qualities, such as honesty and integrity. You can admire someone's lively personality while questioning their character, which is why the two are often distinguished.
Can personality change?
Yes, though core traits tend to be fairly stable over a lifetime. Personality can shift gradually with age, major life experiences, relationships, and deliberate effort. Psychologists find people often become more conscientious and emotionally steady as they mature, so while change is usually slow, it is entirely possible.
What are the types of personality?
There are many models. Psychologists often use the Big Five traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Popular frameworks include the sixteen Myers-Briggs types and the older idea of introverts and extroverts. Each system offers a different way to group the endless variety of human temperaments.
Can personality be measured?
To a degree, yes. Psychologists use structured questionnaires and rating scales, such as Big Five inventories, to gauge where someone falls on various traits. These tools reveal useful patterns rather than exact scores, since personality is complex and context-dependent. No single test captures the whole of who a person is.
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