Word family noun person personality persona personage the personals personification personnel adjective personal ≠ impersonal personalized personable verb personalize personify adverb personally ≠ impersonally
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpersonalityper‧son‧al‧i‧ty /ˌpɜːsəˈnæləti $ ˌpɜːr-/ ●●● S3 W3 noun (plural personalities) 1 [countable, uncountable]CHARACTER/PERSONALITY someone’s character, especially the way they behave towards other people Despite their different personalities, they became the best of friends. Unfortunately, the illness can lead to changes in personality. → split personality2 [countable]DLAM someone who is very famous and often appears in the newspapers, on television etc, especially an entertainer or sports person → celebrityTV/radio/sports personality one of the most well-liked TV personalities► see thesaurus at star3 [uncountable]CHARACTER/PERSONALITY the qualities of character that make someone interesting or enjoyable to be with He’s honest but he lacks personality.4 [countable usually singular] someone who has a very strong character and is very different from other people He was a dynamic personality in the business world.5 [countable usually singular]CHARACTER OF something the qualities which make a place or thing different and interesting It’s partly the architecture which gives the town its personality.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa strong personalityMercer has a strong personality and always tells you his opinion.a forceful personalityThe architect’s forceful personality ensured that the work progressed rapidly.a dominant personality (=controlling other people)He had a dominant personality and could be a bit of a bully.a warm personality (=friendly and kind to people)Everyone who knew Roseanne will miss her warm personality.an outgoing/extrovert personality (=liking to talk to people)The job requires someone with an outgoing personality.an engaging personality (=pleasant, so that people like you)He is strikingly handsome with a very engaging personality.a bubbly personality (=happy and eager to do things)Her bright and bubbly personality made her one of the most popular girls in her year.a lively/vivacious personality (=liking to meet and talk to people)Her lively personality won her many admirers.a charismatic personality (=strong and attractive, so that people admire and respect you)Like many other people, I was attracted by his charismatic personality.personality + NOUNa personality trait formal (=a part of your personality)She shares many of her mother’s personality traits.a personality disorder (=a mental illness affecting someone’s personality)The hospital treats patients with severe personality disorders.a personality clash (=when people cannot work together because they are so different)The band eventually split because of personality clashes.a personality testEmployers are increasingly using personality tests to help them select staff. Examples from the Corpus
personality• Most are Type A personalities, very outgoing, although a few are very shy and express themselves through their cars.• The disease causes memory loss, often leading to changes in behavior and personality.• Relationships in a single policy area also vary over time according to the issues and personalities involved.• The critics held him in high esteem as an actor, and the fans adored him for his outrageous and boozy personality.• Everyone loves her for her cheerful personality.• It's true he can be emotional at times but that's just part of his personality.• The Senator is a good, reliable man, but he lacks personality.• Inside of her 4-10,90-pound body was a lively personality and incredible desire.• Dotty was a smart, good-looking 17-year-old with a lively personality.• For years she was one of the best-loved personalities in the newspaper gossip columns.• Billie Holiday or Bessie Smith had more personality than a hundred of today's pop singers.• Yes, he's got plenty of talent and ambition, but he's got no personality.• What type of personality do you have?• There are three islands off the coast, each with its own personality.• Radio personality Don Imus has gotten in trouble again for what he said on the air.• This information is important in understanding the circumstances and influences on the development of the client's personality and belief systems.• a sports personality• Plas Newydd is dominated by his strong personality.• This election should be about issues and policies, not about the personalities of the candidates!• Closely allied to the fundamental fear-complex within the personality is violence.• Yun has a lovely, warm personality.TV/radio/sports personality• Olympic coaches teach it, sports psychologists write about it and sports personalities use it.• Chris is following in the footsteps of other Merseyside sports personalities by throwing his weight behind drugs prevention.• We have a number of radio personalities on public broadcasting who write books.From Longman Business Dictionarypersonalityper‧son‧al‧i‧ty /ˌpɜːsəˈnælətiˌpɜːr-/ noun (plural personalities)1[countable]LAW an organization that from a legal point of view is separate from the people who own it or manage itA company has a separate legal personality, and its members are not liable for its debts.2[countable, uncountable]MARKETING a product’s personality is the qualities that people think it has, considered as a wholeGasoline has always been a tough sell, without much product personality. 