trait

noun

ˈtrāt 

British also

ˈtrā 

1

a

: a distinguishing quality (as of personal character)

curiosity is one of her notable traits

b

: an inherited characteristic

2

a

: a stroke of or as if of a pencil

b

: touch, trace

Synonyms of trait

• characteristic
• feature
• attribute
• quality
• attribution

Examples of trait in a Sentence

This dog breed has a number of desirable traits.

honesty is one of her defining traits

Recent Examples on the Web

Tunnel vision, pattern recognition and attention to detail are all traits that could be exhibited by autistic people. —Soohyun Cho, The Conversation, 13 Nov. 2025

For the new study, the scientists reviewed 257 specimens — some more than 100 years old — from five museum collections in Europe, examining toads’ physical traits and extracting genetic data. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025

Much like astrology, each of the Mormon Wives embodies traits that mirror the 12 zodiac signs. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025

Conventional wisdom holds that this extreme variation is the result of humans intensively breeding dogs for particular traits over the past 200 years or so. —Kate Wong, Scientific American, 13 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, literally, act of drawing, from Latin tractus — more at tract

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing trait

• sickle-cell trait

Rhymes for trait

• ate
• bait
• bate
• cate
• crate
• date
• eight
• fait
• fate
• fete
• frate
• freight

Kids Definition

trait

noun

ˈtrāt 

1

: a quality that sets one person or thing off from another : peculiarity sense 2

curiosity is one of her notable traits

2

: an inherited characteristic

dominant and recessive traits

Etymology

from early French trait "the act of pulling," from Latin tractus, past participle of trahere "to pull, drag" — related to trace entry 1, trace entry 3

Medical Definition

trait

noun

ˈtrāt, British usually ˈtrā

: an inherited characteristic