charisma
Americannoun
plural
charismata-
Theology. a divinely conferred gift or power.
-
a spiritual power or personal quality that gives an individual influence or authority over large numbers of people.
-
the special virtue of an office, function, position, etc., that confers or is thought to confer on the person holding it an unusual ability for leadership, worthiness of veneration, or the like.
noun
-
a special personal quality or power of an individual making him capable of influencing or inspiring large numbers of people
-
a quality inherent in a thing which inspires great enthusiasm and devotion
-
Christianity a divinely bestowed power or talent
Usage
What does charisma mean? Charisma is the magnetic and charming personal quality that draws people to someone. People who have an outgoing, energetic, and likable personality that seems to naturally draw other people to them are said to have charisma. Such people are often described with the adjective form of the word, charismatic. A person with charisma is thought to be able to easily influence others. Charisma is most often used in a positive way as a compliment, but it is sometimes used to imply that someone’s appeal is based entirely on their outgoing personality, rather than the substance of their actions or their character. The word is also used in a religious context in a more specific way to refer to a spiritual gift or a special ability for leadership. This sense of the word is sometimes seen as charism, and can be pluralized as charismata. Example: People like a candidate who’s got charisma and can get them excited, not someone who just drones on about facts and figures.
Discover More
Political leaders such as John F. Kennedy, religious leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., and entertainment figures such as Greta Garbo have all been described as charismatic.
Other Word Forms
- charismatic adjective
Etymology
Origin of charisma
First recorded in 1635–45; from Late Latin, from Greek, equivalent to char- (base of cháris “favor,” charízesthai “to favor”) + -isma -ism
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His personal charisma has been an unquestionable ingredient of his success, but polls suggest many of his supporters have tired of him and the corruption allegations that have swirled around his party.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
The good news is probably won’t work for him, since Satan himself couldn’t grant Vance more charisma.
From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026
His low-wattage charisma was blamed for a sharp drop of almost a million viewers from the previous season, which featured professional tennis instructor Joey Graziadei.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
Coogler says Jordan's success in tough roles is a "testament to his charisma."
From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026
He was not without charisma, Cora had to admit.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
