Skip to content
Skip to content

Agency Dictionary

Mannerism

nounPronunciation: /ˈmæn.ər.ɪ.zəm/

In Portuguese: Maneirismo

What does “Mannerism” mean?

A habitual gesture, distinctive personal style, or idiosyncratic behavioral trait.

Etymology

Two distinct senses with separate origins. The common noun, meaning a habitual personal gesture or peculiarity of style, is formed from manner and the suffix -ism; manner came into English through Old French from Latin manuarius (of the hand). The art-historical term Mannerism, referring to the 16th-century Italian style bridging the High Renaissance and the Baroque, derives from Italian manierismo, formed from maniera (style); its first use is usually credited to the art historian Luigi Lanzi, in the late 18th century.

Synonyms

  • affectation
  • peculiarity
  • habit
  • quirk

Word family

  • mannered
  • manner
  • mannerist

Usage examples

  • The word "style" has its roots in the Latin word for a writing tool, but it has evolved to encompass the broader concept of personal expression and distinctive mannerisms in various domains of human activity.

Concept

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Words of the same theme

vocationnoun
A strong innate inclination or sense of purpose toward a particular career, craft, or calling.
Synchronicitynoun
The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
Stigmanoun
A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
clevernessnoun
The mental quality of being quick-witted, agile, and ingenious in solving specific situational problems.
collective consciousnessnoun
The set of beliefs, ideas and feelings shared by the members of a society, which exists beyond any single person. By extension, what a community knows and repeats in common.
Abyssnoun
A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, either in physical geography or metaphorical psychological depth. It evokes feelings of unfathomable emptiness or existential peril.
Adversitynoun
A state of severe hardship, difficulty, or misfortune that tests resilience and moral endurance.
Affectnoun
An expressed or experienced emotion, feeling, or visceral response to a stimulus in psychology and philosophy.
Anesthetizeverb
To administer an anesthetic to eliminate physical feeling, or figuratively to numb emotional or critical awareness.
anesthetizedadjective
Deprived of physical sensation or feeling, often used figuratively to describe dullness or emotional apathy.
Anesthetizingadjective
Producing numbness, insensibility, or temporary relief from pain and critical awareness. In media studies, it describes content that pacifies audiences into mindless consumption.

Also from these editions: terms

Resiliencenoun
The capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties, tough conditions, or shock.
Authenticitynoun
The quality of being real, genuine, and true to one's own character or stated origins.
Bifurcationnoun
The division of something into two separate branches, directions, or parts.
Contextualadjective
Depending on, relevant to, or determined by the surrounding circumstances or environment.
Differentiationnoun
The act or process of distinguishing between two or more items or establishing uniqueness.
Interdisciplinaryadjective
Involving or combining two or more academic disciplines or professional specialized fields.
Memorabilitynoun
The quality of being easy to remember, noteworthy, or enduring in human recollection.
narrativenoun
A spoken or written account of connected events, forming a coherent story or conceptual perspective.
Personanoun
The public face or role that a person or entity presents to the world, distinct from private inner reality.
Preposterousadjective
Contrary to reason or common sense, utterly absurd or ridiculous.
Symbolicadjective
Serving as a representation of something intangible or carrying deeper non-literal meaning.

Also from these editions: concepts

Published
Updated
Cite this entry

“Mannerism”. Agency Wiki, Agency Brasil. Published on November 11, 2026. https://www.agencybrasil.com/en/wiki/dictionary/mannerism