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

In addition to its other outsized traits, the Komodo dragon is the largest venomous animal on the planet. —Craig Stanford, Big Think, 7 May 2026

Does Taaffe possess the physical traits of an NFL safety? —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026

That’s the trait that most drew the Rams to Trost. —Nate Atkins, New York Times, 6 May 2026

Nucleus Genomics in New York lets prospective parents try to select even more traits, including eye color, hair color, propensity for baldness and acne, and whether a child will be left-handed. —Rob Stein, NPR, 6 May 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