# temperament

/ˈtɛmpɝmənt/ (US) · /tˈɛmpɹəmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/temperament
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. personality and character

noun · CEFR B2

your natural character and the way you usually react to things.

For teachers: an individual's characteristic manner of thinking, behaving, or reacting, often regarded as innate.

- The two brothers have a very different temperament; one is calm while the other is energetic.
- Her artistic temperament made her prone to sudden bursts of inspiration followed by long periods of quiet reflection.

### 2. biological behavior

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the parts of your behavior that you are born with, rather than things you learn.

For teachers: biologically based individual differences in behavior that are relatively independent of learning and social values.

- Researchers study infant temperament to see how personality develops over time.
- The study suggests that certain aspects of temperament, such as sensitivity to noise, are evident from birth.

### 3. musical tuning

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a way of tuning an instrument so that it sounds good in different keys.

For teachers: a system of tuning in which the intervals deviate from the mathematically pure intervals of the harmonic series.

- Equal temperament is the most common tuning system used for modern pianos.
- The harpsichordist preferred using a historical temperament to better capture the intended dissonances of the Baroque composition.

### 4. a mixture of elements

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a balanced mix of different parts or ingredients.

For teachers: a moderate or proportional mixture of elements or ingredients in a compound.

- The old book described the temperament of the medicine as a perfect balance of herbs.
- In ancient philosophy, health was often defined as the proper temperament of the four bodily humours.

## Examples

- She has a very calm and steady temperament.
- The breeder selects puppies based on their temperament to ensure they are suitable for families with young children.
- While her sister was prone to sudden outbursts of anger, Elena possessed a sanguine temperament that allowed her to remain composed even during the most stressful negotiations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.