demeanor
Americannoun
-
conduct; behavior; deportment.
-
facial appearance; mien.
Etymology
Origin of demeanor
First recorded in 1425–75, demeanor is from the late Middle English word demenure. See demean 2, -or 1
Explanation
Your demeanor is defined as being either your facial appearance or your behavior. When playing poker, don't let your demeanor give away how good your cards are. Demeanor in English today has evolved from Middle English and Old French to refer to the way one manages or presents oneself, and this definition applies to conduct as well as facial expressions. The way you present yourself often affects how others make judgments about you and therefore, you might want your demeanor to reflect the situation you're in. So, if you're at a birthday party, your demeanor should be happy and smiling!
Vocabulary lists containing demeanor
Grade 9, List 1
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1984
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The Hunger Games
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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.
Underneath his placid demeanor, Cook is a tactical corporate strategist whose decisions haven’t always sat well with everyone.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
Voters in search of a new candidate said they were drawn to Becerra’s calm demeanor and decades of experience in government.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
In his initial livestream denying the allegations, he not only exhibited an odd demeanor, but he also falsely insisted that every accusation could be “traced back to a single source, my former wife.”
From Salon ● Aug. 7, 2026
Clad in a sleeveless bright green dress, Anderson, 57, radiates an ageless grace, undeniably sophisticated yet unpretentious in her demeanor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
The smaller of the two—but not by much—was a sloppy blond boy, rosy-cheeked and gum-chewing, with a relentlessly cheery demeanor and his fists thrust deep in the pockets of his knee-sprung trousers.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
