English Reference

Word

personality

Phoneticsper·son·al·i·ty, stress on the third syllable

US/ˌpɝsəˈnæɫɪti/

UK/pˌɜːsənˈælɪti/

Definitions

01character traits

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. the set of qualities that make a person's character unique.

n. the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character.

“She has a very outgoing personality and makes friends easily.”

“Psychologists often debate whether personality is primarily shaped by genetic factors or by the environment in which a child is raised.”

02charisma

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. a strong or interesting character that makes someone stand out.

n. the quality of being attractive or interesting; personal magnetism or charisma.

“The new teacher has a lot of personality and keeps the students interested.”

“While he lacked technical expertise, his sheer force of personality allowed him to lead the team through the crisis successfully.”

03a famous person

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a well-known person, especially someone famous from TV, radio, or social media.

n. a celebrity or famous person, particularly one with a prominent media presence.

“The local TV personality hosted the charity event last night.”

“The gala was attended by several media personalities and former athletes who were keen to support the foundation's goals.”

Synonyms

celebritystarnotability

04distinctive character of a place

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the special qualities that make a place or thing interesting and different.

n. the set of qualities that make an inanimate object or abstract entity distinctive or appealing.

“The old wooden furniture gives the room a lot of personality.”

“The architect aimed to design a building that had its own personality rather than just being another glass-and-steel office block.”

05legal status

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Technical · Formal

n. the status of being a person in the eyes of the law.

n. the quality or state of being a person in law, which includes the capacity to have rights and duties.

“The court had to decide if the organisation had a separate legal personality.”

“The doctrine of corporate personality ensures that a company is treated as a distinct legal entity from its shareholders and directors.”

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “personality” in context.

01. personality inventory 02. personality trait

Real-World Examples

“With data from 46 different study cohorts, they found a symphony of 1,260 genetic markers tied to personality, nearly two-thirds of them identified for the first time.”
The New York Times 3 Sept 2026
“The Big Five Personality Inventory test rates its takers on openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism – it’s the test that told me my levels of neuroticism were practically off the charts.”
The Guardian 27 Sept 2024
“There are various methods to assess personality, but much of the research has focused on five key dimensions that are considered to represent our most essential characteristics.”
The Guardian 13 Feb 2023

Etymology

From Middle English personalite, from Middle French [Term?], from Latin persōnālitās. First attested in the late 14th century. By surface analysis, personal + -ity.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synonyms

Word family

NOUN

ADJECTIVE

Domain

Law

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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