What does personality mean?
Personality denotes the distinctive pattern of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, habits, and reactions that makes a person recognizable as an individual. It is broader than mood or temperament: temperament usually focuses on a habitual tendency, such as calmness or irritability, whereas personality includes the whole of a person's character and behavioral style. In everyday conversation, the word may also refer to a person's social presence, as in someone who has “a strong personality,” meaning they are assertive, distinctive, or forceful. Although personality is influenced by inherited characteristics and life experience, describing it does not require making rigid claims about fixed or unchangeable traits. The term also has specialized uses in law and literature, where it can identify the person represented or portrayed. Its unusual history begins with the theatrical mask: the word ultimately derives from Latin persona, meaning a mask or role, reflecting the ancient idea of identity performed through outward appearance and speech.
nounThe distinctive combination of traits, attitudes, and behavioral tendencies that characterizes an individual. The word can also refer to a person's engaging or forceful presence, or, in specialized contexts, to the person represented in a legal or literary capacity.
- The distinctive pattern of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and behavior that characterizes a person.
- A person's identity or individuality, especially when considered as a whole.
- A person's distinctive or conspicuous presence, often suggesting confidence, charm, or force of character.
- In legal and literary contexts, the person represented, spoken for, or involved in a transaction or fictional work.
"Her warmth and resilience have made her a reassuring presence among the department's otherwise reserved personalities."
"The course was designed to help young children understand their own personalities and develop confidence."
"He was known for his commanding personality and his ability to command a crowded room."
The plural is commonly used for the traits of several people, for the identities of several individuals, or informally for notable people or celebrities.
"The two musicians had sharply contrasting personalities despite working together for years."
Your personality began with a mask: “person” comes from Latin persona, the actor's mask, and personality literally means the qualities belonging to a person.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does personality come from?
The word entered English in the late Middle English period through Old French personalite. Its immediate source was Latin personalitas, a derivative of persona, meaning a theatrical mask or the role represented by one; person, personal, and personnel ultimately share this root. The original emphasis was therefore on a person's outward character, identity, and manner, while modern usage developed broader psychological and behavioral senses.
How personality is actually used
In informal usage, “a personality” can refer to a celebrity or notable individual, while phrases such as “a big personality” emphasize sociability, confidence, or forcefulness. The legal sense is specialized, and the literary sense can appear in expressions such as “the personality of the protagonist.”
Easily confused with personality
Personality encompasses the whole pattern of a person's attitudes and behavior, whereas temperament more specifically refers to a habitual or naturally predominant disposition, such as being calm or excitable.