trait
C1Formal, academic, psychological, biological; also used in general educated contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A distinguishing quality, feature, or characteristic of a person, animal, or thing, especially one that is enduring and considered typical.
Can also refer to a genetically determined characteristic, especially in biology and psychology.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word strongly implies a stable, inherent, often defining quality. It is most commonly applied to personality or behavioral characteristics in humans but is also used for physical or genetic features in organisms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are the primary variants.
Connotations
Equally neutral and formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American academic/psychological texts, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have/possess a ~share a ~inherit a ~exhibit/show a ~identify a ~a ~ of (something/someone)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a family trait”
- “a national trait”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in HR and management to discuss personality traits relevant for roles, e.g., 'We are looking for candidates with strong leadership traits.'
Academic
Frequent in psychology, biology, and sociology to describe measurable or observable characteristics, e.g., 'The study examined the heritability of specific personality traits.'
Everyday
Used to describe someone's typical behavior or appearance, e.g., 'Patience is not one of his best traits.'
Technical
In genetics, refers to a phenotypic characteristic determined by genes, e.g., 'Eye colour is a simple Mendelian trait.'
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Kindness is a good trait.
- Blue eyes are a genetic trait.
- One of her most noticeable traits is her optimism.
- The dog has several traits from its wolf ancestors.
- The researcher identified a correlation between certain personality traits and career success.
- Honesty and integrity are fundamental character traits they value in employees.
- The novel's protagonist exhibits a tragic flaw, a character trait that ultimately leads to his downfall.
- Evolutionary biologists study how adaptive traits become more common in a population over generations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PORTRAIT. A portrait captures a person's defining TRAITS.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSESSION ("He has many good traits."); INHERITANCE ("A trait passed down through generations.")
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'трэк' (Eng. 'track').
- Do not confuse with 'черта' in all contexts; 'trait' is more neutral and often positive/descriptive, while 'черта' can be more negative (e.g., 'черта характера'). 'Особенность' or 'характеристика' are often safer translations.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural pronunciation: /treɪts/ not /treɪ/.
- Misspelling as 'treat'.
- Overusing for temporary states (e.g., 'He was in a good mood, which is a nice trait' is incorrect; a trait is enduring).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'trait' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is commonly used for people (personality traits), but also for animals, plants, and even abstract concepts like 'a trait of his writing style'.
A trait is an inherent, enduring characteristic (e.g., being organised). A habit is a regular, often unconscious behaviour developed through repetition (e.g., biting your nails). A trait can lead to habits.
It is pronounced /treɪt/ (rhyming with 'late' or 'gate') in both British and American English. The final 't' is always pronounced.
Yes, it is a neutral term. You can have negative traits (e.g., stubbornness, arrogance) and positive traits (e.g., generosity, courage).
Collections
Part of a collection
Personality Traits
B1 · 36 words · Describing character and personal qualities.