Etymologically
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personality

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 23:54. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˌpɜː.sənˈæl.ə.ti/, US /ˌpɝː.sənˈæl.ə.t̬i/[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English personalite,[2][3] borrowed from Old French personalité,[2][4] and directly from Medieval Latin persōnālitās,[2][3] from Late Latin persōnālis “personal”,[2][3] the source of personal.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The quality or fact of being a person: about 1380 in the OED, the late 14th century in Etymonline.[5][2]

Semantic evolution

The theological sense, the Deity's consisting of distinct persons, is from 1492.[5] A personal being, a person, is from 1678.[5] The distinctive character of a self-conscious being, the qualities that make a person what he or she is, is recorded by 1795, from French personnalité.[2][5] In psychology, the unique combination of qualities that marks an individual is from 1879,[5] and a person who stands out, a celebrity, from 1889.[5] The plural personalities, remarks about a person, especially disparaging ones, is from 1772.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 1380 – the quality of being a person.[5]
  • 1492 – in theology.[5]
  • 1772 – personal remarks.[5]
  • 1795 – a person's distinctive character.[2][5]
  • 1879 – in psychology.[5]
  • 1889 – a celebrity.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The combination of qualities and traits of character and behaviour that make a person distinct.
  2. Lively and attractive qualities of character: she has lots of personality.
  3. A famous person, especially in entertainment or sport; a celebrity.
  4. The quality or condition of being a person.
  5. personalities: offensive personal remarks.

Word family

  • tripersonality
  • antisocial personality disorder
  • cult of personality
  • multiple personality
  • multiple personality disorder
  • personality disorder
  • personality inventory
  • personality test

Usage notes

Personality is often used in journalism to mean “celebrity”; the American Heritage notes that it suits someone famous for frequent appearances, such as a television host, but is slighting when used of people known for substantive achievements.[6]

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin