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The stadium isn’t old enough to feel outdated but is old enough to have acquired character.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

An acquired character is simply a modification, due to some cause external to the germ-plasm acting on an inborn character.

From Applied Eugenics by Popenoe, Paul

Coming into it, however, from Lutetia’s bedroom, it suddenly acquired character.

From Out of the Air by Gillmore, Inez Haynes

In other words, is it an acquired character?

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various