personality
- the visible aspect of one's character as it impresses others: He has a pleasing personality.
- a person as an embodiment of a collection of qualities: He is a curious personality.
- Psychology.
- the sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual.
- the organized pattern of behavioral characteristics of the individual.
- the quality of being a person; existence as a self-conscious human being; personal identity.
- the essential character of a person.
- something apprehended as reflective of or analogous to a distinctive human personality, as the atmosphere of a place or thing: This house has a warm personality.
- a famous, notable, or prominent person; celebrity.
- application or reference to a particular person or particular persons, often in disparagement or hostility.
- a disparaging or offensive statement referring to a particular person: The political debate deteriorated into personalities.
Origin of personality
Synonym study
Related Words for personalities
nature, self, makeup, psyche, charisma, charm, temperament, temper, identity, individuality, magnetism, complexion, disposition, singularity, emotions, dynamism, VIP, bigwig, brass, chiefExamples from the Web for personalities
Contemporary Examples of personalities
But the rift was, not least, a matter of personalities and egos.
If you think about who did become stars, they were all personalities.
Nigel Lythgoe on How to Save Reality TV, ‘On the Town,’ and ‘Brokeback Ballroom’Kevin Fallon
October 22, 2014
Foxx sat down with The Daily Beast in New York to discuss everything from his superhero flick to Fox News personalities.
Jamie Foxx on ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2,’ Donald Sterling’s Racism, and Bill O’Reilly’s TV ActMarlow Stern
April 28, 2014
What about people who, as a result of a TBI, had their personalities altered completely?
New Research Shows Half of All Homeless Have Suffered Traumatic Brain InjuryCharlotte Lytton
April 28, 2014
No, this rancid bill of goods is also being by peddled by Fox News personalities.
Historical Examples of personalities
It passes from badinage into personalities and recriminations.
Words are like buildings; like personalities; they have their exterior and their interior message.
Sex=The Unknown QuantityAli Nomad
A movement of this kind should not be allowed to focus on personalities.
Marriage Enrichment RetreatsDavid Mace
"With personalities like that, respectability is a disease," she told me.
One-ShotJames Benjamin Blish
In short, we finally have not merely two but a number of personalities in us.
PsychotherapyHugo Mnsterberg
personality
- psychol the sum total of all the behavioural and mental characteristics by means of which an individual is recognized as being unique
- the distinctive character of a person that makes him socially attractivea salesman needs a lot of personality
- a well-known person in a certain field, such as sport or entertainment
- a remarkable personthe old fellow is a real personality
- the quality of being a unique person
- the distinctive atmosphere of a place or situation
- (often plural) a personal remark
Word Origin and History for personalities
personality
late 14c., "quality or fact of being a person," from Medieval Latin personalitatem (nominative personalitas), from Late Latin personalis (see personal). Sense of "a distinctive character" is first recorded 1795, from French personnalité.
Personality is the supreme realization of the innate idiosyncrasy of a living being. It is an act of courage flung in the face of life, the absolute affirmation of all that constitutes the individual, the most successful adaptation to the universal conditions of existence, coupled with the greatest possible freedom of self-determination. [C.G. Jung, 1875-1961]
Meaning "person whose character stands out from that of others" is from 1889. Personality cult is attested from 1956.
personality
(pûr′sə-năl′ĭ-tē)- The quality or condition of being a person.
- The totality of qualities and traits, as of character or behavior, that are peculiar to a specific person.
- The pattern of collective character, behavioral, temperamental, emotional, and mental traits of a person.
- Distinctive qualities of a person, especially those personal characteristics that make one socially appealing.
personality
The pattern of feelings, thoughts, and activities that distinguishes one person from another.