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
Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2024
Things to consider in your case are dog breed and temperament.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2024
In any case, what makes your dog so special to you is not just the appearance and temperament of your pet.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
The association selects animals for breeding based on their genetics, as well as their health and temperament.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2024
Finger had the physique and the temperament of a natural athlete.
—Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Angela Bassett and Robin Wright also star in the fantasy film
Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown continues to forge her path as Netflix’s leading lady, picking vehicles that neatly fit her talent and temperament.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024
The intensity of your child's reaction depends on their temperament and their typical routine.
—Karen Horsch, Parents, 1 Mar. 2024
Biden is certainly seen as much more too old than Trump is, but Trump is seen as more corrupt and doesn't have the right temperament to be president.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 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 24 Apr. 2024.
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temperament
noun
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temperament
noun
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