personality

noun

per·​son·​al·​i·​ty ˌpər-sə-ˈna-lə-tē 

ˌpər-ˈsna-

plural personalities

1

a

: the quality or state of being a person

b

: personal existence

2

a

: the condition or fact of relating to a particular person

specifically : the condition of referring directly to or being aimed disparagingly or hostilely at an individual

b

: an offensively personal remark

angrily resorted to personalities

3

a

: the complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual or a nation or group

especially : the totality of an individual's behavioral and emotional characteristics

b

: a set of distinctive traits and characteristics

the energetic personality of the city

4

a

: distinction or excellence of personal and social traits

also : a person having such quality

b

: a person of importance, prominence, renown, or notoriety

a TV personality

Synonyms

• cause célèbre
• cause celebre
• celeb
• celebrity
• figure
• icon
• ikon
• light
• luminary
• megastar
• name
• notability
• notable
• notoriety
• personage
• somebody
• standout
• star
• superstar
• VIP

Choose the Right Synonym for personality

disposition, temperament, temper, character, personality mean the dominant quality or qualities distinguishing a person or group.

disposition implies customary moods and attitude toward the life around one.

a cheerful disposition

temperament implies a pattern of innate characteristics associated with one's specific physical and nervous organization.

an artistic temperament

temper implies the qualities acquired through experience that determine how a person or group meets difficulties or handles situations.

a resilient temper

character applies to the aggregate of moral qualities by which a person is judged apart from intelligence, competence, or special talents.

strength of character

personality applies to an aggregate of qualities that distinguish one as a person.

a somber personality

Examples of personality in a Sentence

He has a very pleasant personality.

We all have different personalities.

The psychiatrist considered behavior as well as personality before prescribing a treatment.

He has lots of personality.

He wants to buy a car that has personality.

She has met many television personalities.

He was an influential personality in genetic engineering.

Recent Examples on the Web

Step into the spotlight and let your dynamic personality inspire others to see the possibilities. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024

Using the Concise function on highlighted text to boil it down strips out too much personality, while the Friendly function gets too wordy and often misses the sentence's or paragraph's original point. —PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024

That’s not to say there’s no room for course-correction — Karen’s frenemy Gizelle Bryant suddenly learning how to apologize this season is a good example — but that a sudden personality transplant reads as insincere. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024

Advertisement The looser podcast format allows guests to address specific topics and show their personalities in ways that don’t work as well in traditional journalistic interviews, in which the host is expected to pin down politicians on policies and past contradictions. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English personalite, from Anglo-French personalité, from Late Latin personalitat-, personalitas, from personalis

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing personality

• antisocial personality disorder
• borderline personality disorder
• cult of personality
• multiple personality
• multiple personality disorder
• narcissistic personality disorder
• personality cult
• personality disorder
• personality inventory
• personality test
• psychopathic personality disorder
• schizoid personality
• schizoid personality disorder
• schizotypal personality
• schizotypal personality disorder
• split personality

Kids Definition

personality

noun

per·​son·​al·​i·​ty ˌpərs-ᵊn-ˈal-ət-ē 

ˌpər-ˈsnal-

plural personalities

1

: the state of being a person

2

: the whole collection of individual emotions and behavior that make one person different from others : individuality

3

: an insulting mention of a person

use personalities in an argument

4

: pleasing qualities of character

has lots of personality

5

: a person who is well-known

a television personality

Medical Definition

personality

noun

per·​son·​al·​i·​ty ˌpərs-ᵊn-ˈal-ət-ē, ˌpər-ˈsnal- 

plural personalities

1

: the complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual especially in relationships with others

2

a

: the totality of an individual's behavioral and emotional tendencies

b

: the organization of the individual's distinguishing character traits, attitudes, or habits

Legal Definition

personality

noun

per·​son·​al·​i·​ty

plural personalities

1

: the quality, state, or fact of being a person

the corporation has legal personality

2

: the totality of an individual's behavioral and emotional characteristics

a personality disorder