personality test: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “personality test” mean?
A standardized assessment designed to measure and describe an individual's character traits, behavioral patterns, and psychological attributes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A standardized assessment designed to measure and describe an individual's character traits, behavioral patterns, and psychological attributes.
Any method or tool used to evaluate aspects of a person's character, often for purposes of self-discovery, career guidance, team building, or psychological diagnosis. Can range from informal online quizzes to validated psychometric instruments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling follows national conventions for 'personality' (same) and 'test' (same).
Connotations
Slightly more associated with clinical or occupational psychology in the UK, while in the US it may have broader pop-psychology and corporate connotations.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “personality test” in a Sentence
take/do/complete a personality testthe personality test showed/revealed/suggestedbased on a personality testscore on a personality testVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “personality test” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The consultancy will personality-test all new hires.
- We are being personality-tested as part of the process.
American English
- The company personality-tests every applicant.
- She got personality-tested last week.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly derived.
American English
- Not commonly derived.
adjective
British English
- The personality-test results were confidential.
- We use a personality-test methodology.
American English
- The personality-test data revealed trends.
- He specializes in personality-test development.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR for recruitment, team building, and leadership development (e.g., 'All candidates completed a personality test').
Academic
Used in psychology research to measure constructs like extraversion or neuroticism (e.g., 'The study employed the NEO-PI-R personality test').
Everyday
Refers to informal quizzes found online or in magazines for entertainment or self-reflection (e.g., 'We did a personality test in a magazine').
Technical
Refers to validated instruments with statistical reliability and normative data, such as the MMPI or 16PF.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “personality test”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “personality test”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “personality test”
- Using 'personality exam' (too academic/final).
- Saying 'make a personality test' instead of 'take/do a personality test'.
- Confusing it with an 'aptitude test' or 'IQ test'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, validity varies greatly. Clinical tools like the MMPI are highly validated, while many popular online quizzes are for entertainment only.
Only specific, clinically validated tests administered by qualified professionals can contribute to a diagnosis. Most general personality tests cannot.
To assess cultural fit, predict job performance, identify leadership potential, and build balanced teams. Their effectiveness for hiring is debated.
No, the test only measures your traits at a given time. Personality can evolve slowly over a lifetime, but not because of a test.
A standardized assessment designed to measure and describe an individual's character traits, behavioral patterns, and psychological attributes.
Personality test is usually neutral to formal in register.
Personality test: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpɜː.sənˈæl.ə.ti ˌtest/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɝː.sənˈæl.ə.t̬i ˌtest/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable for this compound noun.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PERSON trying on different hats (personality traits) while a scientist gives them a TEST.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSONALITY IS A MEASURABLE OBJECT (you can score high or low on it), THE MIND IS A MAP (tests chart its territory).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a well-known, scientifically developed personality test?