trait

[ treyt; British also trey ]

noun

1. a distinguishing characteristic or quality, especially of one's personal nature:

   bad traits of character.

   Synonyms: property, attribute, mark, peculiarity

2. a pen or pencil stroke.
3. a stroke, touch, or strain, as of some quality:

   a trait of pathos; a trait of ready wit.

trait

/ treɪt; treɪ /

noun

1. a characteristic feature or quality distinguishing a particular person or thing
2. rare.
   a touch or stroke

trait

/ trāt /

1. A genetically determined characteristic or condition. Traits may be physical, such as hair color or leaf shape, or they may be behavioral, such as nesting in birds and burrowing in rodents. Traits typically result from the combined action of several genes, though some traits are expressed by a single gene.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trait¹

First recorded in 1470–80; from Middle French: literally, “something drawn,” from Latin tractus; tract ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of trait¹

C16: from French, from Old French: a pulling, from Latin tractus , from trahere to drag

Example Sentences

Gender is the word that’s often used to describe the traits, characteristics, experiences, and social expectations that are associated with identity.

From Nautilus

Like humans, dogs’ personality traits stayed fairly stable over time.

From Nautilus

It’s a trait that’s terrible for us, but great for an artificial nose.

From Singularity Hub 

Such studies try to determine whether particular traits, diseases or conditions are due to genes or instead reflect environmental influences.

From Science News For Students

This trait, dubbed “virulence,” needs to stay semi-consistent so that the virus can maintain itself inside a host.

From Singularity Hub 

This uniqueness is a trait that she attributes to her early success as a dominatrix.

From The Daily Beast

In a close-to-human face, every inhuman trait becomes magnified.

From The Daily Beast

Self-realized masters can get stern and even appear angry if a disciple openly manifests some undesirable character trait.

From The Daily Beast

By using some sort of filter—like, perhaps, a universally understood saying—the trait is more easily conveyed.

From The Daily Beast

The Royalist has always maintained that Harry's red hair is a Spencer, not a Hewitt trait.

From The Daily Beast

No trait is better marked in the normal child than the impulse to subject others to his own disciplinary system.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a fine trait in Scotchmen that, deeply respecting themselves, they respect others.

From Project Gutenberg

Does a friend come and add to the gross character of such a man the unknown trait of disgusting gluttony?

From Project Gutenberg

The sterling trait in his character is, that he grasps after originality, and grapples with every difficulty.

From Project Gutenberg

This trait in the man of the Midi is one that Daudet has brought out humorously in the Tartarin books.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• attribute
• character
• feature
• habit
• idiosyncrasy
• manner
• oddity
• peculiarity
• quality
• quirk
• trick
• virtue