What does choleric mean?
Choleric describes someone who is bad-tempered, irritable, and quick to anger. The word is relatively formal and literary, appearing more often in written portraits than in casual conversation: a critic might describe a general's choleric rages or a novelist sketch a choleric old uncle who snaps at the slightest provocation. Its origins lie in the ancient doctrine of the four humours, which held that human temperament was determined by the balance of bodily fluids — an excess of yellow bile (Greek chole) was believed to produce just such an angry, excitable disposition. That physiological sense survives today mainly in discussions of medical history and literature of the medieval and Renaissance periods. Synonyms include irascible, hot-tempered, and splenetic, while its opposites would be good-natured or placid. Knowing choleric is useful both for describing fiery personalities with precision and for understanding centuries of writing about temperament.
Bad-tempered, irritable, or easily moved to anger.
"His choleric response to mild criticism startled the whole office."
Somewhat formal or literary register; everyday equivalents include 'bad-tempered' and 'short-fused'.
(Historical) Relating to, or characterized by, an excess of yellow bile as understood in the ancient theory of the four humours.
"Medieval physicians classified him as choleric because of his flushed face and violent moods."
Now found mainly in historical, literary, or academic contexts discussing humoural medicine.
Choleric comes from the ancient theory that your personality is decided by which of four bodily fluids dominates — this one literally means 'full of yellow bile.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of choleric
Choleric derives from the Greek kholera, meaning bile, via Late Latin cholericus and Old French colerique. In the humoural medicine of antiquity and the Middle Ages, an excess of yellow bile was thought to produce an irritable, angry temperament, and the adjective originally described that condition. English adopted the word around the late Middle Ages to early modern period, and it retains that humoural sense in historical usage while its dominant modern meaning is simply 'quick-tempered'. It shares its root with cholera, melancholy (black bile) and phlegmatic (phlegm), all products of the four-humours framework.
How choleric is actually used
Choleric is a somewhat literary or formal word; in everyday speech speakers are more likely to say 'bad-tempered' or 'short-fused.' It carries a mildly clinical, character-describing tone, often used in profiles of public figures or literary characters. Its humoural sense is now almost exclusively encountered in historical contexts.
Easily confused with choleric
Cholera is a serious infectious bacterial disease of the intestines, while choleric describes an irritable, quick-tempered disposition — the two share the Greek root chole ('bile') but nothing else.