personality

personality — noun

1. the pattern of qualities in a person that shapes how they think, feel, and act,

1.nounB2
Definition

the pattern of qualities in a person that shapes how they think, feel, and act, and makes them seem unlike others around them

Example

Mina's warm personality helped new students feel safe on their first day.

someone's personality + effect on others

Even in meetings, Kenji's quiet personality makes people listen closely.

Common collocations
  • warm personality
  • strong personality
  • quiet personality
  • show personality
  • personality traits
Synonyms
  • character

    broader, and often used for moral qualities as well as general nature

  • temperament

    focuses more on someone's usual emotional style

  • nature

    slightly more general and often used in a less formal way

Antonyms
  • blandness

    suggests a lack of interesting or noticeable personal qualities

Grammar Patterns

have a ... personality

someone's personality

show personality

different personalities

Usage Note

Often follows adjectives such as 'warm', 'quiet', or 'strong', or appears after verbs like 'have' and 'show'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about a person's character, not a person who is publicly famous.

Common Mistakes

My brother is a shy personality.
My brother has a shy personality.
Use 'have' when describing someone's character with this noun.
He has very personality.
He has a lot of personality.
In the uncountable use, add an amount phrase such as 'a lot of'.

2. a well-known person, especially in television, radio, sport, or other public ent

2.nounB2
Definition

a well-known person, especially in television, radio, sport, or other public entertainment

Example

The chef became a TV personality after winning the national cooking show.

TV personality

Crowds gathered outside the hotel when the sports personality arrived in Taipei.

sports personality

Common collocations
  • TV personality
  • radio personality
  • sports personality
  • internet personality
  • local personality
Synonyms
  • celebrity

    the most common word for a famous person in public life

  • star

    often suggests someone admired for success in entertainment or sport

  • public figure

    broader and more formal; often used for politics or social influence

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a TV personality

a radio personality

a sports personality

a local personality

Usage Note

Usually follows a noun naming the field, such as 'TV', 'radio', 'sports', or 'internet'. It highlights public recognition more than talent itself, so it is not natural for ordinary friends or family members who are only known in private life.

Common Mistakes

She became personality after the show.
She became a personality after the show.
This singular countable noun needs an article.
My uncle is a personality in our family.
My uncle has a big personality.
Sense 2 is for someone known to the public, not just lively at home.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Personality is the broad everyday word for the overall set of qualities that make someone seem like the kind of person they are. Character is close, but it often pays more attention to moral strength or weakness. Temperament focuses on emotional style, such as being calm, nervous, or cheerful by nature. Nature is slightly looser and more conversational, often used in phrases like 'it's not in her nature'. Individuality stresses being different in a clear, personal way. A child who smiles at everyone has a friendly personality. A leader who stays honest under pressure shows strong character. A baby who cries easily may have a sensitive temperament.

personality ↗charactertemperamentnature ↗individuality ↗

Etymology

Late LatinFrenchEnglish

'Personality' was built in English from 'personal' and the ending '-ity', but it goes back to Late Latin 'personalitas'. The word first referred to the condition of being a person. Later, English used it for the qualities that make one person seem different from another, and from there it also developed the modern public-life sense of a famous media or sports figure.