Words / B2

TEMPR-uh-m-uh-nt/ˈtemprəmənt/

Temperament is a person’s usual mood and way of reacting: a calm temperament; temperament for the role. Personality is wider; temper is a short burst of anger (lose your temper). Do not mix temperament with temperature. Job specs sometimes ask for the right temperament under pressure — a B2 interview word.

Meaning

A person’s usual mood and way of reacting.

Examples

• “The role needs a calm temperament under live-broadcast pressure.”
• “The breeds differ in temperament, which is the animal-behaviour sense.”

Good to know

a calm / nervous temperament; temperament for. Wider: personality. Burst of anger: temper. Mix-up: temperature. Interviews: temperament under pressure.

Near in meaning

disposition

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