extroversion

noun

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ex·tro·ver·sion | \ ˌek-strə-ˈvər-zhən

, -shən \

variants: or extraversion

Definition of extroversion

psychology : the state of or tendency toward being predominantly concerned with and obtaining gratification from what is outside the self : a personality trait or style characterized by a preference for or orientation to engaging socially with others

Note: The psychologist Carl Gustav Jung first introduced the terms extroversion, extrovert, introversion, and introvert in the early 1900s to describe personality types that focus a person's energy on either the inner or outer world.

Extroversion focuses on any feelings of joy associating with others. Gregarious individuals enjoy large groups and the social aspects of any situation.— Melinda L. Korzaan and Katherine T. Boswell Extroversion is characterized by being outgoing and drawing energy from interacting with others …— James M. Honeycutt Wisconsin ranked among the top five states in America for "extraversion"—a trait associated with those who are sociable, energetic and enthusiastic …— Bill Glauber — compare introversion sense 2

Examples of extroversion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These dimensions—openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism—are viewed as representing the basic dimensions of personality. — Frank Luerweg, Scientific American, 14 Mar. 2019 It’s as if success and extroversion are interconnected, almost excluding introversion traits. — Naira Velumyan, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2021 Those with the capacity for extroversion may now spend summer shaking off the dust that’s accumulated on their social lives. — Andrew Simmons, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 June 2021 People who are high in extroversion tend to seek out social stimulation and opportunities to engage with others. — Regan Hillyer, Forbes, 7 June 2021 What an extroversion type may view as a welcome break (such as impromptu IM chat) might be disruptive to someone who prefers introversion. — Sherrie Haynie, Forbes, 8 Apr. 2021 In leading your team through these times, keep in mind that those who prefer introversion may feel just as isolated and frustrated with the current situation as those who prefer extroversion. — Sherrie Haynie, Forbes, 8 Apr. 2021 But as a study published in January suggests, other traits appear to be more important than extroversion. — Andreas Kluth, Star Tribune, 11 May 2021 Nowadays, many introverts express frustration that employers seem to be more welcoming toward traits like openness, communication, expressiveness and the ability to make quick decisions — all characteristics that seem to lean toward extroversion. — Naira Velumyan, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'extroversion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for extroversion

borrowed from German Extraversion, probably alteration, by change of extro- to Latin extrā extra-, of Extroversion "turning outward (of an organ, as the bladder)," borrowed from New Latin extrōversiōn-, extrōversiō, noun of action from extrōvertere "to turn outward," from extrō- extro- + Latin vertere "to turn" — more at worth entry 4, version

Note: Both Extraversion and its counterpart Introversion were introduced into psychology by Carl jung, apparently in the second decade of the twentieth century. The words occur in the text of a presentation given by Jung at a meeting of the International Psychoanalytical Congress in Munich (September 7-8, 1913), published in French in the same year ("Contribution à l'étude des types psychologiques," Archives de psychologie, tome 13 [1913], p. 290.) Introversion and the adjective introvertiert "introverted" appear earlier, in a somewhat different sense, in Jung's Über Konflikte der kindischen Seele (Leipzig/Vienna, 1910, pp. 6, 10). The above etymology assumes that Jung had in mind an already existing word, but he could have equally well formed Extraversion by substituting the prefix extra- for other prefixes joined to -version, taken as an independent formative. The choice of extra-, which ordinarily means "beyond," seems peculiar, and has led to re-formations of the word in English as extroversion, with extro- taken to mean "outward." On the other hand, extro- is a neologism made up as a correspondent to intro-, with no correspondent in classical Latin; perhaps this is why Jung avoided it.

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Last Updated

4 Oct 2021

Cite this Entry

“Extroversion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extroversion. Accessed 24 Oct. 2021.

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More Definitions for extroversion

extroversion

noun

ex·tro·ver·sion

variants: or extraversion \ ˌek-strə-ˈvər-zhən, -shən

Medical Definition of extroversion

: the state of or tendency toward being predominantly concerned with and obtaining gratification from what is outside the self : a personality trait or style characterized by a preference for or orientation to engaging socially with others

Note: The psychologist C. G. Jung first introduced the terms extroversion, extrovert, introversion, and introvert in the early 1900s to describe personality types that focus a person's energy on either the inner or outer world.

— compare introversion