charisma

Also char·ism

[kuh-riz-muh]

noun

plural

charismata 

1. Theology.,  a divinely conferred gift or power.

2. a spiritual power or personal quality that gives an individual influence or authority over large numbers of people.

   Synonyms: presence, magnetism, charm

3. 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.

charisma

/ ˈkærɪzəm, kəˈrɪzmə, ˌkærɪzˈmætɪk /

noun

1. a special personal quality or power of an individual making him capable of influencing or inspiring large numbers of people

2. a quality inherent in a thing which inspires great enthusiasm and devotion

3. Christianity a divinely bestowed power or talent

charisma

1. Extraordinary power and appeal of personality; natural ability to inspire a large following.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of charisma¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Late Latin, from Greek, equivalent to char- (base of cháris “favor,” charízesthai “to favor”) + -isma -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of charisma¹

C17: from Church Latin, from Greek kharisma, from kharis grace, favour

Example Sentences

Albert’s role as the outgoing governor is a sly send-up of political animals, his barely concealed ambition masked by charisma, with just enough sincerity and genuine affection for Ella to make him conflicted.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Even in his later years, his charisma endured.

Read more on Barron's

The problem with the Democratic Party “is that all the energy and charisma is with the socialist left,” Mr. Epstein says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They vote on charisma, tribalism, and maybe some hope and fear.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Reaching Bihar's 130 million mostly young people, Kishor brought hype, methods, charisma - and even memes.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• allure 
• glamour 
• magnetism 

When To Use

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.