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

Earlier in the episode, for example, Frog tells Lee that his love of chasing women is a heritable trait. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2026

Without those traits, analysts spend more hours cleaning spreadsheets than reading them. — Felysha Walker, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026

What blows away everyone who watches Carter are his rare physical traits. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 11 Nov. 2026

Kel Mitchell, who made orange soda a personality trait on Nickelodeon, will bring Kel’s Burger Fest to Griffith Park in 2027. — Brock Keeling, Daily News, 11 Nov. 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