extroversion

American  

[ek-struh-vur-zhuhn, -shuhn, ek-struh-vur-, -stroh-] / ˌɛk strəˈvɜr ʒən, -ʃən, ˈɛk strəˌvɜr-, -stroʊ- /

Also extraversion

noun

1. a disposition that is energized through social engagement and languishes or chafes in solitude, resulting in a personality that is gregarious, outgoing, and sociable.

2. Psychology.

   1. the act of directing one's interest outward or to things outside the self.

   2. the state of being concerned primarily with things outside the self, with the external environment rather than with one's own thoughts and feelings.

3. Pathology. a turning inside out, as of the eyelids or of the bladder.

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extroversion British  

/ ˌɛkstrəˈvɜːʃən /

noun

1. psychol the directing of one's interest outwards, esp towards social contacts

2. pathol a turning inside out of an organ or part

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Usage

What does extroversion mean? Extroversion is the state or quality of being an extrovert—someone said to have a personality type that is social and outgoing. Extroversion is often contrasted with introversion (the state or quality of being an introvert) in the study, classification, and popular discussion of personality types. Extroverts enjoy being around other people and tend to focus on the outside world, while introverts are the opposite—they prefer solitude and tend to focus on their own thoughts. Someone who displays extroversion can be described as extroverted. Less commonly, the word can be spelled extraversion. Example: Giovanni’s extroversion drew everyone in the room to him—he was endlessly outgoing.

Other Word Forms

• extroversive adjective
• extroversively adverb
• extrovertive adjective
• extrovertively adverb

Etymology

Origin of extroversion

First recorded in 1650–60 and in 1915–20 extroversion for def. 2; from extro-, alternative form of Latin adverb and preposition extrā “outside,” formed on the model of the Latin adverb intrō “inside, indoors” + Medieval Latin versiōn- (stem of versiō ), derivative of versus, past participle of vertere “to turn”; see also extro-, verse ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Globally, introversion preferences are more common than extroversion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

Psychologists have long described introversion and extroversion as extremes, with most of us falling somewhere in the middle.

From Slate • Sep. 1, 2024

Shadow is one of them but also synchronicity, introversion and extroversion, the collective unconscious.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2024

The researchers randomly assigned 401 participants, who self-reported their levels of extroversion, to one of three groups to study how personality similarity and customization affect users' experiences with virtual assistants.

From Science Daily • Nov. 28, 2023

His new boss, he decided, went through phases of extroversion followed by periods of intense quiet.

From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman