temperament
This term describes the biological or innate predisposition of a person's nature. It suggests a baseline emotional setting that is relatively stable over time, often linked to genetics or early development rather than learned behavior.
In professional or psychological contexts, it is used to categorize how a person responds to stimuli, such as being naturally anxious or naturally calm. It differs from mood, which is a temporary state, by referring to the enduring pattern of a person's emotional life.
Countable when discussing the different personality types of a group of people (e.g., the various temperaments found in a classroom). Uncountable when referring to the general quality of a person's nature (e.g., she has a gentle temperament).
Meanings
Examples
He has a fiery temperament that makes him prone to sudden outbursts.