trait

[treyt, trey]

noun

1. a distinguishing characteristic or quality, especially of one's personal nature.

   bad traits of character.

   Synonyms: property, attribute, mark, peculiarity

2. a pen or pencil stroke.

3. a stroke, touch, or strain, as of some quality.

   a trait of pathos; a trait of ready wit.

trait

/ treɪ, treɪt /

noun

1. a characteristic feature or quality distinguishing a particular person or thing

2. rare,  a touch or stroke

trait

1. A genetically determined characteristic or condition. Traits may be physical, such as hair color or leaf shape, or they may be behavioral, such as nesting in birds and burrowing in rodents. Traits typically result from the combined action of several genes, though some traits are expressed by a single gene.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trait¹

First recorded in 1470–80; from Middle French: literally, “something drawn,” from Latin tractus; tract ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of trait¹

C16: from French, from Old French: a pulling, from Latin tractus , from trahere to drag

Example Sentences

The districts must also follow the federal Voting Rights Act and group together “communities of interest,” a wide-reaching term of art for people who share languages, cultures, backgrounds, interests, ways of life or other traits.

From Los Angeles Times

How did you go about striking that balance between the less flattering traits he has while also ensuring he’s someone the audience is rooting for?

From Los Angeles Times

But those traits are, many times, rare among superstar athletes — or celebrities in any field.

From Los Angeles Times

In Ava Pickett's fresh adaptation, being staged at London's Rose Theatre, Emma Woodhouse still has all the trademark traits of our beloved original heroine – she's clever, quick-witted, meddling, haughty and occasionally cruel.

From BBC

"If these lobsters are surviving and reproducing, they're passing on that trait," he said.

From BBC

Related Words

• attribute 
• character 
• feature 
• habit 
• idiosyncrasy 
• manner 
• oddity 
• peculiarity 
• quality 
• quirk 
• trick 
• virtue