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

Cooper says personality traits, brain chemistry, past experiences and social context may all play a part. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 18 June 2026

But that only presented more questions because the fossil didn’t show any classic amphibian tadpole traits. —Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 18 June 2026

The first idea is that the earliest strains didn’t have the right genetic traits to be really lethal. —ArsTechnica, 18 June 2026

By comparing how development unfolds across different lineages, scientists can begin piecing together which traits are ancient and which are evolutionary innovations. —Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

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