temperament
noun
Did you know?
Why is temperament spelled the way it is?
Blame Latin.
Like the related noun temper (which most often refers to a person's tendency to become angry, but also has a neutral sense very close to that of temperament, among other meanings) temperament traces back to a Latin word, temperare, which means "to mix or blend." The a in temperare lives on in the modern spelling of temperament.
Temperament is an old word (it dates to the 15th century) with multiple meanings, but in modern use it typically refers to the usual attitude, mood, or behavior of a person or animal. If you're adopting a dog, you might look for one with a sweet temperament; you might describe someone who is often nervous as having a nervous temperament.
Did you know?
What is the difference between disposition and predisposition?
What exactly is someone's disposition? And is it different from a predisposition? A person's disposition is his or her usual mood or attitude. Are you typically pretty happy? You could be described as having a happy—or cheerful, or sunny—disposition. Animals have dispositions too; a dog with a nervous disposition doesn't easily relax into a restful pup curled up at someone’s feet. In this use, disposition is a synonym of temperament; both words refer to the complex set of attitudes and inclinations that guide behavior.
Disposition can also mean "tendency" or "inclination," and in such cases it has a surprising synonym: predisposition. A disposition to exaggerate is the same as a predisposition to exaggerate. A disposition toward humility is likewise the same thing as a predisposition toward humility. The fact of being "in advance" that the prefix pre- implies hardly matters when tendency and inclination are concerned, since both concern what is likely to happen in the future.
While phrases like "a disposition to cooperate" are about as common as "a predisposition to cooperate," when the context is medical, predisposition is far more common. Phrases like "a genetic predisposition to nearsightedness" appear much more frequently in published, edited text than similar phrases employing disposition.
Examples of temperament in a Sentence
Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024
Though Peter Salovey, Yale’s retiring president, is infinitely more likable and scholarly than the no-longer-president Claudine Gay, and Yale’s temperament is less imperious and smug than Harvard’s, both places are in a crisis.
—Brian T. Allen, National Review, 8 Feb. 2024
Yet Baker, an iconoclast by temperament, is a mythologist by vocation.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
His incredible intellect was matched by an amazing temperament.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024
Schneider also discussed his temperament in the writers’ room and on set, which many former Nickelodeon cast and crew members characterized as volatile, antagonistic, and inappropriate throughout Quiet on Set.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2024
On the plus side, depending on your temperament, washing dishes ranks among the jobs least likely to require speaking, along with machine tenders in factories.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024
Suitable investment performance is going to vary from person to person because it’s being influenced by individual circumstances and factors like risk tolerance, temperament, behavior, financial goals, and investment horizon.
—Joel Johnson, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Voters supporting former President Donald Trump want someone who will fight for people like them, while those who support former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley want someone who either shares their values or has the right temperament.
—Jennifer De Pinto, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'temperament.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near temperament
Cite this Entry
“Temperament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temperament. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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temperament
noun
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temperament
noun
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