acquired character

American  

noun

Genetics.

1. a noninheritable character that results from certain environmental influences.

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Etymology

Origin of acquired character

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

The stadium isn’t old enough to feel outdated but is old enough to have acquired character.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2024

Deneuve, the darling of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg 32 years ago, has aged gracefully; her face has acquired character, a kind of pinched authority.

From Time Magazine Archive

But in public life the artificial or the acquired character prevails over the one which nature designed for us; and by that all public men, as well as authors, are usually judged by posterity.

From Calamities and Quarrels of Authors by Disraeli, Isaac

And further, our much-vaunted two thousand years of culture is a thing of the mind, an acquired character.

From The Kempton-Wace Letters by London, Jack

The further question whether such an acquired character can be transmitted we need not raise again.

From Anthropology by Marett, R. R. (Robert Ranulph)