mannerism

noun

man·​ner·​ism ˈma-nə-ˌri-zəm 

1

a

: exaggerated or affected (see affected entry 2 sense 1) adherence to a particular style or manner : artificiality, preciosity

refined almost to the point of mannerism

—Winthrop Sargeant

b

often capitalized : an art style in late 16th century Europe characterized by spatial incongruity and excessive elongation of the human figures

2

: a characteristic and often unconscious mode or peculiarity of action, bearing, or treatment

The actor can mimic the President's mannerisms perfectly.

mannerist

ˈma-nə-rist 

noun or adjective

manneristic

ˌma-nə-ˈri-stik 

adjective

Synonyms

• crotchet
• curiosity
• eccentricity
• erraticism
• idiosyncrasy
• individualism
• kink
• oddity
• peculiarity
• quiddity
• quip
• quirk
• singularity
• tic
• trick
• twist

Choose the Right Synonym for mannerism

pose, air, airs, affectation, mannerism mean an adopted way of speaking or behaving.

pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others.

her shyness was just a pose

air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.

a traveler's sophisticated air

airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

Examples of mannerism in a Sentence

The actor can mimic the President's mannerisms perfectly.

quirky mannerisms such as toying with her hair and tapping her toes

Recent Examples on the Web

The actor mastered Charles' verbal and physical mannerisms — and played the piano and lip-synced with a fervor few actors have ever mustered. —EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025

Friedrich’s mannerisms percolated into pop culture. —Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 25 Feb. 2025

His unique mannerisms have at times come into conflict with Hollywood’s current ethos, which in the wake of the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements and the COVID pandemic has become far more rigid, uniform and policed. —Peter Kiefer, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025

The mannerisms, the walk, the voice, the turn of phrase. —Ellise Shafer, Variety, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for mannerism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

Kids Definition

mannerism

noun

man·​ner·​ism ˈman-ə-ˌriz-əm 

: a characteristic and often unconscious way of acting

the mannerism of constantly adjusting her glasses

Medical Definition

mannerism

noun

man·​ner·​ism ˈman-ə-ˌriz-əm 

: a characteristic and often unconscious mode or peculiarity of action, bearing, or treatment

especially : any pointless and compulsive activity performed repeatedly