personality
Americannoun
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personalities
plural
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the visible aspect of one's character as it impresses others.
He has a pleasing personality.
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a person as an embodiment of a collection of qualities.
He is a curious personality.
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Psychology.
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the sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual.
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the organized pattern of behavioral characteristics of the individual.
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the quality of being a person; existence as a self-conscious human being; personal identity.
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the essential character of a person.
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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.
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a famous, notable, or prominent person; celebrity.
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application or reference to a particular person or particular persons, often in disparagement or hostility.
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a disparaging or offensive statement referring to a particular person.
The political debate deteriorated into personalities.
noun
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psychol the sum total of all the behavioural and mental characteristics by means of which an individual is recognized as being unique
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the distinctive character of a person that makes him socially attractive
a salesman needs a lot of personality
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a well-known person in a certain field, such as sport or entertainment
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a remarkable person
the old fellow is a real personality
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the quality of being a unique person
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the distinctive atmosphere of a place or situation
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(often plural) a personal remark
Synonym Usage
See character.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of personality
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English personalite, from Middle French, from Late Latin persōnālitās, from Latin persōnāl(is) personal + -itās -ity
Explanation
Your personality is what makes you "you" — the combination of characteristics that make you unique. Despite sharing some of the same genes, your siblings may have different personalities from you. You may be outgoing and upbeat, your sister may be quiet and reserved, and your brother may be a perennial pessimist. A personality can also refer to someone who is well known in a certain field — such as a sports or television personality.
Vocabulary lists containing personality
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Psychology
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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.
See Examples For:
"I think Tyson Fury was amazing for British boxing and what he achieved, what he did and brought to the game and how colourful he was as a personality," Hamed, 52, added.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
"When Joao Pedro is angry, he doesn't shout, he goes quiet," Junqueira said of his general personality.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
When Tiedemann posted clips on social media of her whipping up seafood pastas and searing rib-eyes, she became an overnight sensation, as much for her bawdy, uninhibited personality as her culinary prowess.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Her skills were off the charts, as was her personality.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
I wonder if his personality is anything like his human namesake’s.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
A few high-profile golf personalities like English professional golfer Hannah Screen and Golf.com social-media manager Claire Rogers also weighed in, calling the spot “frustrating” and “very scary.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
Contestants might arrive determined to present a polished version of themselves, but after spending hours under pressure, their real personalities begin to emerge.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
Brands have to develop distinct personalities to reach consumers suffering from information overload, Virmani said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Return-to-office mandates also have hiring managers more focused on candidates’ personalities.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
Friends and colleagues of Ernest and Oppie typically sought an explanation of their break in their divergent personalities, rather than the character of either man.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
