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Synonyms

personality

American  
[pur-suh-nal-i-tee] / ˌpɜr səˈnæl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

personalities
  1. the visible aspect of one's character as it impresses others.

    He has a pleasing personality.

  2. a person as an embodiment of a collection of qualities.

    He is a curious personality.

  3. Psychology.

    1. the sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual.

    2. the organized pattern of behavioral characteristics of the individual.

  4. the quality of being a person; existence as a self-conscious human being; personal identity.

  5. the essential character of a person.

  6. 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.

  7. a famous, notable, or prominent person; celebrity.

  8. application or reference to a particular person or particular persons, often in disparagement or hostility.

  9. a disparaging or offensive statement referring to a particular person.

    The political debate deteriorated into personalities.


personality British  
/ ˌpɜːsəˈnælɪtɪ /

noun

  1. psychol the sum total of all the behavioural and mental characteristics by means of which an individual is recognized as being unique

  2. the distinctive character of a person that makes him socially attractive

    a salesman needs a lot of personality

  3. a well-known person in a certain field, such as sport or entertainment

  4. a remarkable person

    the old fellow is a real personality

  5. the quality of being a unique person

  6. the distinctive atmosphere of a place or situation

  7. (often plural) a personal remark

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

personality Cultural  
  1. The pattern of feelings, thoughts, and activities that distinguishes one person from another.


Related Words

See character.

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

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.

Hughes also keenly understood that, because these personalities were so familiar, his characters wouldn’t stand out to viewers unless they pushed their paradigm.

From Salon

Miss Piggy’s personality is simply too much for most to handle.

From Salon

With the sport steering in a more candid direction, Wolff says "the teams have realised it's more than just about the racing, it's the drama off track, the personalities off track".

From BBC

Flitting between organic and industrial, they are a pleasure to inspect as the slight variations in each give them individual personalities that grow the longer one spends with them.

From The Wall Street Journal

Hollywood personalities never liked either acquisition, of course.

From The Wall Street Journal