mannerism
a habitual or characteristic manner, mode, or way of doing something; distinctive quality or style, as in behavior or speech: He has an annoying mannerism of tapping his fingers while he talks. They copied his literary mannerisms but always lacked his ebullience.
marked or excessive adherence to an unusual or a particular manner, especially if affected: Natural courtesy is a world apart from snobbish mannerism.
(usually initial capital letter) a style in the fine arts developed principally in Europe during the 16th century, chiefly characterized by a complex perspectival system, elongation of forms, strained gestures or poses of figures, and intense, often strident color.
Origin of mannerism
1Other words from mannerism
- man·ner·ist, noun
- man·ner·is·tic, adjective
- man·ner·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb
- non·man·ner·is·tic, adjective
- sem·i·man·ner·is·tic, adjective
Words Nearby mannerism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use mannerism in a sentence
Our friendship began “through the kitchen” and it was strengthened by shared opinions and similar mannerisms.
This, this kid’s a really chill guy but when he does get upset, he has a number of vocal mannerisms.
They do so by manipulating language, mannerisms, clothing, and credentials in ways that amplify their middle-class status, what I call public identities.
I knew my friend didn’t move like that, with the limited range of these computer-generated mannerisms.
Anyone with an iPhone can now make deepfakes. We aren’t ready for what happens next. | Geoffrey Fowler | March 25, 2021 | Washington PostKnowing his mannerisms, inflection and body language gives me additional contextual clues.
Five ways to become a ‘Search Sherpa’ for your own organization | Lisa Little | December 7, 2020 | Search Engine Land
Impersonation absolutely requires the finest detail of mannerism to be represented in the action.
Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge SouthwickCuban women excel in charm of mannerism and in their eyes Miss Roosevelt appears unpolished and uncut.
The Onlooker, Volume 1, Part 2 | VariousHe maintains that Nature should be the only teacher, and that we are to be wedded to no man's mannerism.
Imitation is a precipice, a swift descent through poverty of thought into the chaos of mannerism, in the place of style.
Needlework As Art | Marian AlfordQuickly it runs to a fluent mannerism that makes a great bulk of the text.
British Dictionary definitions for mannerism
/ (ˈmænəˌrɪzəm) /
a distinctive and individual gesture or trait; idiosyncrasy
(often capital) a principally Italian movement in art and architecture between the High Renaissance and Baroque periods (1520–1600) that sought to represent an ideal of beauty rather than natural images of it, using characteristic distortion and exaggeration of human proportions, perspective, etc
adherence to a distinctive or affected manner, esp in art or literature
Derived forms of mannerism
- mannerist, noun
- manneristic or manneristical, adjective
- manneristically, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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