Word for words that describe themselves

What are the best words to describe your personality?

How would you describe yourself?

Most people avoid focusing their own personality when answering this question. Instead, they may talk about their job, their hobbies and interests, places they’ve lived, or other basic background facts about themselves.

Truly and accurately describing your own personality — your unique style of thinking, behaving, and feeling — is quite difficult, because it requires you to take a step back, evaluate yourself objectively, and compare yourself to other people.

The free Personality Wordcloud tool in TraitLab makes this easy, and the results include a collection of words that describe your personality, just like the example wordcloud above.

The Big Five Personality dimensions

Describing the differences between people in a consistent and precise way is very difficult. Modern personality assessments are designed to solve exactly this problem.

Among scientific researchers, who solve these sorts of problems for a living, the most widely-accepted system for describing personality differences is easily the Big Five.

The Big Five isn’t the only way psychologists think about personality, but it’s the one that has the most scientific research behind it — thousands of studies involving millions of participants).

Research studies have connected the Big Five to just about everything: our relationships, career preferences, moods and temperment, music preferences, physiology, and, of course, the words we use to describe ourselves and other people.

The Big Five Personality dimensions are Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion (or Introversion), Agreeableness, and Neuroticism, or OCEAN, for short.

Like everyone else, you fall somewhere between high and low on all five dimensions. When you complete the basic assessments within TraitLab, you’ll receive a score from 0 (low) to 100 (high) on each dimension.

Knowing where you stand on all five dimensions gives you a richer understanding of your typical patterns of thinking, behaving, and feeling, and how you are similar to, or different, from others.

Below, I’ve given a simple description of each dimension, and some examples of words used to describe people who are either high or low on that dimension.¹

Openness to Experience

Openness describes your preference and tolerance for new experiences, ideas, and feelings.

Highly open people tend to be highly imaginative, curious, have diverse intellectual and artistic interests, and are more likely to have unconventional habits, ideas, or beliefs.

Less open (or more traditional) people gravitate towards more familiar experiences, are generally less interested in novelty, and hold more conventional interests, ideas, and beliefs.

High Openness	Low Openness
imaginative	traditional
philosophical	unsophisticated
creative	predictable
artistic	conventional
eccentric	provincial

Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness describes your planning, impulsivity, and tendency to follow socially accepted norms and rules.

Highly conscientious people tend to be highly organized and systematic, create detailed plans, are less easily distracted, and more likely to closely follow rules and guidelines across many situations.

Less conscientious (or more spontaneous) people are less systematic in their planning and decisions, are less focused on long-term goals or achievements, are less likely to conform to socially accepted norms and rules, and are generally more spontaneous across situations.

High Conscientiousness	Low Conscientiousness
systematic	impulsive
orderly	haphazard
meticulous	careless
dependable	erratic
thorough	frivolous

Extraversion (or the opposite, Introversion) describes your tendencies around social engagement and positive emotionality.

Highly extraverted people tend to actively engage with others, be more assertive, active, and talkative, and generally experience more positive emotions (e.g., joy, happiness, enthusiasm) across most situations.

Less extraverted people (or highly introverted people) tend to engage in more solitary activities, gravitate towards less stimulating environments, be more passive, inhibited, and reserved, and generally experience positive emotions less frequently and less intensely across most situations.

High Extraversion	Low Extraversion
talkative	quiet
assertive	shy
energetic	inhibited
sociable	reserved
bold	bashful

Agreeableness

Agreeableness describes your motivation to maintain positive relationships with others.

Highly agreeable people are strongly motivated to maintain warmer and friendlier relations with others, seek to reduce or resolve interpersonal conflict, maintain or increase group cooperation, and control negative emotions around other people.

Less agreeable (or more demanding) people are more strongly motivated to pursue personal goals over positive relations with others, in doing so, are more willing to create conflict and disagreement, attempt to impose their will on others, and display or express negative emotions to others.

High Agreeableness	Low Agreeableness
warm	cold
compassionate	insensitive
polite	demanding
considerate	impersonal
helpful	uncooperative

Neuroticism

Neuroticism describes your emotional variability and tendency to experience negative emotions.

Highly neurotic people have more frequent mood swings, have greater tendency to worry, are more easily irritated and susceptible to anxious or depressed moods.

Less neurotic (or more emotionally stable) people worry less and are less reactive to stress, experience less depression and anxiety, and are generally more easy-going.

High Neuroticism	Low Neuroticism
moody	unemotional
defensive	confident
nervous	relaxed
high-strung	unexcitable
fidgety	patient

Find the right words with TraitLab Plus

The examples above are only fraction of the hundreds of words related to the Big Five dimensions. With TraitLab’s Personality Wordcloud tool, you’ll see up to 100 adjectives describing your personality.

After calculating your position on each of the Big Five dimensions, TraitLab compares your results to published research on the words people use to describe themselves and others, ranking hundreds of words based on their similarity to your unique blend of traits. Finally, it generates a wordcloud of your most similar words sized by similarity (bigger words are more similar to you).

Here’s an example of an real result. Based on the Big Five assessment, this person was very high on Introversion and Openness to Experience, a little above average on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, and average on Neuroticism.

Want to see yours? You can try the Personality Wordcloud for free, no signup or email required!

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^{1: In a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, researchers asked participants to rate hundreds of words based on how well each word described them. These participants also completed a measure of the Big Five personality dimensions. Researchers found that the words people used to describe themselves were consistently to their combinations of five personality dimensions. The research findings included the list of words used in the study, and their statistical relationship to the Big Five dimensions.}

73% of job seekers say that the process of looking for a job is one of the most stressful events in life. There’s one question that probably plays a significant role. “How would you describe yourself?”, “What are the words to describe yourself?”, and “Tell me a little about yourself?”.

This interview question and its many variations remain one of the interviewer’s most beloved questions. You can see the anticipation in their eyes right before they ask it, and you’d be lucky to leave an interview room before hearing it.

However, you’ll soon notice that interviewers don’t share a similar enthusiasm for this noble inquiry. To them, it remains the mother of all tough interview questions. That said, any unprepared interviewee who’s been at the other end of this question owes you a story.

Gone wrong, you’re a few words away from coming out as a narcissist, proud, insecure, or apprehensive, and a few steps closer to fumbling the interview altogether.

Words to Describe Yourself Professionally

Did you know that 85% of people lie on their resumes? At an interview, or while writing that resume, you should be aiming to be the other 15% that don’t.

Your interviewer will probably ask this question, curious to know about your skills and their relevance to the profession or job you’re applying to.

With that in mind, relevance is the name of the game. Saying that you’re funny (even if you are) may be relevant for a comedy audition, but it won’t cut it for other professions you will be applying to.

Examples of words to describe yourself:

1. Analytical
2. Consistent
3. Decisive
4. Diligent
5. Disciplined
6. Dependable
7. Industrious
8. Ethical
9. Insightful
10. Innovative
11. Logical
12. Organized
13. Proactive
14. Precise
15. Reliable
16. Skillful
17. Tenacious
18. Thorough
19. Versatile
20. Visionary

Words to Describe Your Personality

Companies want to know the kind of person they’re onboarding. More so, they’re curious if your personality traits will be perfect for their company culture.

Always have the company culture in mind when answering this question. You may learn a bit traditional, but that would be better left unsaid if you ever find yourself being interviewed for a progressive firm.

In describing your personality, you’re allowed to lie through omission; you’re under no obligation to mention that you’re shy or socially anxious unless asked. Mention positive words about yourself and leave your weaknesses for now.

A common mistake you may make when writing a resume without experience is self-depreciation. Many hope that by self-depreciation they may score a few points for honesty. Don’t.

By telling the interviewee that you’re shy, inexperienced, or insecure, you do them the honors of eliminating yourself.

Examples of words to describe yourself:

1. Ambitious
2. Adaptable
3. Bold
4. Cheerful
5. Changeable
6. Driven
7. Confident
8. Energetic
9. Idealist
10. Loyal
11. Open-minded
12. Motivated
13. Meditative
14. Optimistic
15. Passionate
16. Reflective
17. Realist
18. Witty
19. Upbeat
20. Unconventional

Words to Describe How You Relate With Others

Your interaction with the teams that form your company is of particular interest to your interviewers. That said, not all your traits deserve a mention, only those relevant to the company.

In your ten essential resume sections, there will always be a few sections where you will have to reveal the nature of your interaction with other team members. Remember, not mentioning anything about teamwork or team spirit in itself is a red flag.

Moreover, when describing your relationship with others, beware of coming out as a “pick me”.

These are people who believe in winning validation from people by being overly nice and letting everything pass.

With that in mind, ensure to punctuate that “loving, affectionate, empathetic” with mentions of values like “assertiveness, bold, honest.”

Words and adjectives to describe a person’s relation with others include:

1. Attentive
2. Amiable
3. Cooperative
4. Empathetic
5. Easy-going
6. Energetic
7. Flexible
8. Frank
9. likable
10. Helpful
11. Understanding
12. Personable
13. People person
14. Respectful
15. Resourceful
16. Sincere
17. Tolerant
18. Team player
19. Thoughtful
20. Tenacious

Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume

As a beginner writing a resume, you will probably be lost for words to describe yourself, the best of your qualities, without coming off as proud and egotistical. You are not alone.

If you’ve been writing resumes for a while now, you’re also looking for improvement and curious about any words you might add to your arsenal.

As you write your resume, the trick is to avoid overused words like “resource-driven,” which will have the panel rolling their eyes on the other end as they read.

Your definition, especially in a written resume, should also be balanced, touching on professionalism, leadership, character, and personality.

Some of the words you can consider adding to your resume include:

ways to describe yourself:

1. Articulate
2. Accomplished
3. Ambitious
4. Authentic
5. Conscientious
6. Data-driven
7. Experienced
8. Enterprising
9. Innovative
10. Intuitive
11. methodical
12. Sociable
13. People driven
14. Persistent
15. Proficient
16. Meticulous
17. Relaxed
18. Skillful
19. Strong-willed
20. Thorough

Words to Describe Your Leadership

Have you ever auditioned for a leadership role?

Leadership roles also come with their own set of personality requirements that interviewers will be scouting for in their candidates. The only difference this time is that it’s much stricter.

Take a look at the following 3- word definitions from a leadership perspective:

“I am experienced, hardworking, and accomplished.”

“I am rational, accountable, and diplomatic.”

The second definition beats the first by simply showing that the writer views leadership as a service and not a privilege.

The art of describing leadership skills comes in handy in your structured resume writing. In a resume, you will have more freedom over the use of descriptive words.

1. Accountable
2. Approachable
3. Assertive
4. Balanced
5. Candid
6. Comradely
7. Competitive
8. Composed
9. Diplomatic
10. Devoted
11. Inspirational
12. Warm
13. Helpful
14. Humorous
15. Open-minded
16. Perceptive
17. Rational
18. Reasonable
19. Risk-taker
20. Transparent

How to Go About Describing Yourself?

Confidence goes a long way when it comes to self-description, especially in an interview. You’ve heard of people that go blank the moment they’re told to describe themselves; you don’t want to be one of them.

1. Consider Your Audience

Whenever you’re describing yourself, either in an interview or a resume, always have your audience in mind.

Remember that these “describe yourself in three words” questions have as much to do with the company as they have to do with yourself.

That said, there are probably hundreds of words to describe yourself. Well, only choose the ones that are relevant at the moment or to the people making an inquiry.

Don’t tell them you’re sexy unless you’re auditioning at the Gentleman’s club. A better approach is to write all your personality descriptions and select those that are relevant to that company and its culture.

2. Perform Self Analysis

The reason why many people struggle with self-descriptive questions is their self-awareness (or lack of). Most people are outward-looking and have never found time for self-reflection and analysis.

A better, reliable, and long-term solution to answering self-description questions will be to leverage self-analysis. While at it, discover your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, writing them down for reference.

With your strengths at your fingertips, you will find it easier to answer this question at an interview without going blank.

3. Get Inquiries from Close People

Another tested and tried method as far for self-awareness is getting inquiries from other people. One thing you should have in mind is that they should be close and people you’ve spent a lot of time with.

Take the phone, dial your mom and ask her to describe you. In between the cute and the lovely (which all mothers say), there will be some truths about your character that you can take to the bank.

If you feel that your mom is describing more of an angel and less of you, don’t be afraid to make inquiries from close colleagues and friends who will be more honest.

4. Go Easy On the Exaggeration

The temptation to overvalue yourself can be too much at times. Believing in yourself is great. However, there is a thin line between confidence, exaggeration, and borderline lying.

While writing a resume, be honest with your capabilities. Don’t describe yourself as “experienced “while you just came out of campus a year ago.

Also, avoid subjective terms that are not measurable in any way. However awesome or amazing you believe you are (you are), don’t use it as self-description on your resume.

What you read as “I am awesome,” your interviewer will read as “I am a Narcissist.” Better yet, they may take your word for it and ask you how?

Seasoned interviewers who have read thousands of resumes can tell a liar from a mile; it’s not worth the trouble.

5. Do Not Self-Depreciate

On the opposite end of exaggeration, and preferably worse, is self-depreciation. Remember, there is no such thing as a sympathy job.

Nobody ever wrote a resume so sad that the panel was like, “Poor thing, let’s give this guy the job.”

Don’t bother mentioning your weaknesses, insecurities, life struggles, or career mistakes. Even worse, don’t use words and adjectives or a tone that shows you look down on yourself.

Guard your frame, and if you don’t leave with the job, at least leave with your dignity.

FAQ

1- What are the 3 words that best describe yourself?

• “I’d characterize myself as motivated, extroverted, and trustworthy.
• “I’m well-organized, kind, and supportive. …
• “First of all, I’m passionate.
• “I’d define myself as friendly in the first place. …
• “Three adjectives I’d use to sum up my personality are enthusiastic, self-assured, and amiable.

2- How I describe my personality?

Powerful language that hiring managers desire to hear should be included in an appropriate response to a personality question. These terms include savviness, taking risks, being attentive, energetic, innovative, and organized.

Others include being brave, sincere, motivated, focused on getting things done, positive, organized, methodical, and adventurous, among others.

3- How do you describe yourself in one sentence?

I am a motivated and hardworking person that doesn’t back down from a task. I have a strong work ethic and the skills necessary to complete the task. I consider myself to be open-minded and truthful, and I don’t believe in deceiving others or trying to be unfair in anything I do.

4- How do I write about myself for a job?

• Include any relevant professional experience you have. …
• Include notable honors and accomplishments. …
• Share any pertinent personal information. …
• Finish on a friendly yet professional note. …
• Select the appropriate vantage point. …
• Update as necessary.

5- Can you describe yourself in three to five words?

“If I had to sum up who I am in 5 words, I’d say I’m a quick thinker, a hard worker, dependable, responsive, and flexible. I am aware that I am still learning a lot and that the workplace is far more competitive than it is in the classroom.

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Between resumes, dating sites, and platforms like LinkedIn… we’re often pressured to present a quickly painted picture of ourselves.  It’s just a snapshot of who we are, but it’s so important.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “You only get one chance to make a first impression.” And if you’re like me, you’ve had times when you wished you had the perfect words to describe yourself.  Or maybe felt like you blew it.

Being prepared for these situations can help. In this post, I’ll give you words to describe yourself in a variety of situations.

The Elevator Pitch is in Demand

Back in the day, the way to “quickly, but accurately describe your best qualities, was referred to as an elevator pitch”. Its a few short, succinct sentences you would say to someone if you only had about 30 seconds of an elevator ride with them. This elevator pitch was traditionally prepared to be used in a job-related situation.

Nowadays, whether it’s a site to meet dates or friends, or to entrepreneurially promote a product or service, there are so many situations where you need to give someone a window into who you are.

Depending on the situation or the social media platform, it’s not necessarily a few complete sentences or less that are expected. Its a few words or less. But whether it’s a few descriptive words or complete sentences, you’ll want to use powerful and compelling adjectives or nouns to describe yourself.

Today, almost everyone has a brand — something they’re trying to market or promote. And usually, that brand is themselves.

Your audience, or the type of site you’re describing yourself on, will determine which adjectives work best.

A job interview or resume may not be the place to describe yourself in the same way as an online dating site or other social media profile. And, although it may be perfectly fine to introduce yourself to a new person as the wild and crazy life of the party, you probably don’t want to put that in your cover letter.

Some words are good for any situation. But there will be specific adjectives that are optimal in a situation, and some descriptive words that are counterproductive or less effective in that same situation.

I’ll break down different situations and the best words for each. Of course, use your best judgment. Each section below could be broken down further.

For example, a job interview for a sales position may be a good place to use words like, gregarious and persuasive. However, if you’re interviewing to be a librarian or work on an assembly line, you may want to choose different adjectives. 

58 Words to Describe Yourself in a Job Interview, Resume, or Cover Letter

The interviewer will more than likely ask you to tell them about you. You have a short window of time to communicate your best self in a way relevant to the job.

Whether it’s the paper introduction or the actual interview, your goal is to describe yourself in a professional and impressive way that will persuade your reader or listener that it’s you they should add to their team.

You want to be confident, thorough, and honest. But you want to balance that against sounding overly confident, arrogant, and self-absorbed. You don’t want the interviewer to think that you’re a know-it-all who can’t be easily trained to do things their company’s way.  

Your goal is to highlight your best qualities and skills. You also want to present experience and talents that may not be related to the position, as if they are all examples of how you are the person who can best do the job.

Since the general purpose is the same for a cover letter, resume, and job interview — to sell yourself — these descriptions are ideal for all three. 

1. People-person/Personable
2. Original/Creative
3. Artistic
4. Resourceful
5. Reliable
6. Detail-oriented
7. Persistent/Persevering
8. Eager
9. Strategic
10. Motivated/Self-motivated
11. Organized
12. Self-aware
13. Driven
14. Thorough
15. Ambitious
16. Skilled/Skillful
17. Persuasive
18. Problem-solver
19. Proactive
20. Focused
21. Patient
22. Passionate
23. Flexible
24. Dedicated/Devoted
25. Conscientious
26. Structured
27. Efficient
28. Analytical
29. Team-player
30. Self-starter
31. Disciplined
32. Accomplished
33. Methodical
34. Professional
35. Expert
36. Proficient
37. Helpful
38. Considerate
39. Responsible
40. Data-driven
41. Experienced
42. Results-oriented
43. Collaborative
44. Inventive
45. Meticulous
46. Punctual
47. Thoughtful
48. Dependable
49. Accountable
50. Emotionally Intelligent
51. Ethical
52. Leader
53. Cooperative
54. Tenacious
55. Knowledgeable
56. Bilingual
57. Multilingual
58. Quick-learner

52 Words to Describe Yourself in an Online Dating Profile

No doubt you want to include words that make you look desirable to a mate. You don’t want to be so revealing or transparent that there’s nothing left to the imagination, or even worse, you scare people away.

Similarly to when you’re describing yourself professionally, you want to appear confident and positive, without sounding cocky, arrogant, or self-absorbed. You want to use words that present you as who you want to be seen as. You may even want to describe yourself with words that describe what you want in a mate.

For example, say you work-out and want others to see you as someone who values staying in shape. And, you want someone who will enjoy a good sweat with you.

It makes sense to describe yourself as physically fit or athletic. You may also like to sit around the house and watch TV, but calling yourself a couch potato may not convey that fitness and being active are some of your key values.

On the other hand, if you’re not much into going out and socializing, and you want to make sure your mate is okay staying home most of the time, homebody is an ideal description.

Now, this part is a little daring. But if you’re trying to meet someone who accepts you for you — the good and the bad — it’s actually okay to make lemons out of lemonade.

If you have some funny flaws that can be presented playfully, go ahead and include them, especially if you have a good sense of humor and want someone else equally good-humored. It may help you attract that ideal person you’ve been looking for that truly “gets” and accepts you for you.

I’ve tacked these daring, quirky, yet adorable words that make you “you”, onto the end of the list in this section.

I’ve separated some of the adjectives into male vs. female. This article lists the top words that eHarmony found to be more effective at attracting a mate than others, based on whether you’re a man or woman.

Most words were equally effective or close to equally effective when used by either males or females. I list these, and other good descriptors, in the “Both” section.

Ladies First

1. Sweet
2. Easy-going
3. Hard-working
4. Energetic
5. Rationale

Men

1. Intelligent
2. Articulate
3. Affectionate
4. Warm
5. Optimistic

What’s Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander (Both)

1. Physically fit
2. Funny
3. Thoughtful
4. Happy
5. Creative
6. Outgoing
7. Passionate
8. Spontaneous
9. Perceptive
10. Ambitious
11. Optimistic
12. Adventurous
13. Trust-worthy
14. Fun-loving
15. Animal-lover
16. Creative
17. Down-to-earth
18. Laid-back
19. Kind
20. Respectful
21. Open-minded
22. Sexy
23. Bubbly
24. Romantic
25. Outdoorsy
26. Homebody
27. Social butterfly
28. Genuine
29. Health conscious
30. Witty
31. Stable
32. Outspoken
33. Risk-taker
34. Silly
35. Quirky
36. Perfectionist
37. Goofy
38. Awkward
39. Eccentric
40. Clumsy
41. Rebellious
42. Crazy

As with any other self-presentation, you want to use words that make you look attractive and interesting. You want to present a positive picture of who you want others to see you as. You also want to take into consideration the type of social media, and your purpose for having a profile on the platform.

So, a LinkedIn profile would use different words than Facebook. And, if your purpose is to be playful, you would use different adjectives than if your intentions are more serious and strategic, like branding yourself so that you can be an influencer.

Of course, this can get even more complicated. Someone who wants to be known for making others laugh may use different words than someone who wants to be known for helping others lose weight or promoting a healthier way of living. But here are some good words to use.

1. Brave
2. Artsy
3. Musical
4. Controversial
5. Fearless
6. Dreamer
7. Go-getter
8. Self-made
9. Down-to-earth
10. Approachable
11. Candid
12. Activist
13. Fabulous
14. Strong
15. Positive
16. Entrepreneur
17. Foodie
18. Queen
19. Blogger
20. Athletic
21. Unique
22. Thrill-seeker
23. World-traveler
24. Bookworm
25. Health conscious
26. Gamer
27. Movie buff
28. (Noun) geek (e.g., comic book geek, IT geek)
29. One-of-a-kind
30. Carefree
31. Daring
32. Optimistic
33. Active
34. Influencer
35. Visionary
36. Trend-setter
37. Sight-seer
38. Funny
39. Fashionista
40. Cartoon-lover
41. Realist
42. Advocate
43. Game-changer
44. Explorer
45. Spiritual
46. Connoisseur
47. A boss
48. Upbeat
49. Animal-lover
50. Outgoing
51. Idealistic

42 Words to Describe Yourself When Meeting New People 

Besides your name, what else can you tell people when you first meet? You probably want to keep it short and sweet since this is a time when you’re equally trying to learn one another. You can work descriptive words in as the conversation flows.

1. Social Butterfly
2. Northerner
3. Southerner
4. Chilled
5. Courteous
6. Respectful
7. Patient
8. Easy-going
9. Flexible
10. Observant
11. Friendly
12. Level-headed
13. Direct
14. Open
15. Sensible
16. Sincere
17. Shy
18. Spontaneous
19. Versatile
20. Unconventional
21. Dream-chaser
22. Good-humored
23. Busy
24. Cheerful
25. Talkative
26. Conversationalist
27. Animated
28. Youthful
29. Practical
30. Fanatical
31. Sensitive
32. Caring
33. Fair
34. Logical
35. Encouraging
36. Objective
37. Intuitive
38. Humble
39. Quiet
40. Non-judgmental
41. Futuristic
42. Accommodating

54 Fun, Random Words to Describe Yourself

Sometimes you just wanna have fun! Just posted your wild night on Instagram? Maybe you’re trying to lighten the mood or cheer someone else up. Maybe you’re trying to cheer yourself up. 

These choices are playful, and some may be painfully, but humorously, honest. We can’t take ourselves too seriously all the time. There’s definitely a time and place for everything.

Check this list out. Just as long as it’s not a resume or job interview, I’m sure you can find a place to put these descriptors to good use. But then again, if you’re trying to get a job as a comedian or reality show character, these words might be perfect.

1. Feisty
2. Random
3. Crazy
4. Unpredictable
5. Impulsive
6. Sassy
7. Hysterical
8. Jokester
9. Goofball
10. Prankster
11. Cheesy
12. Wacky
13. Random
14. Colorful
15. Glamorous
16. Drama-queen
17. Silly
18. Sarcastic
19. Spunky
20. Trickster
21. Playful
22. Rebel
23. Classy
24. Strange
25. Unusual
26. Different
27. Psychic
28. Groupie
29. Pessimist
30. Facetious
31. Amusing
32. Nosey
33. Troublemaker
34. Rule-breaker
35. Clumsy
36. Creepy
37. Bizarre
38. Kinky
39. Fun
40. Enjoyable
41. Cool
42. Whimsical
43. Easily-distracted
44. Attention-grabber
45. Couch-potato
46. People-watcher
47. Nerd
48. Party-girl
49. PK (preacher’s kid)
50. Teacher’s pet
51. Recluse
52. Loner
53. Unfiltered
54. Unparalleled

Final Thoughts on Words to Describe Yourself

People usually post images that make their lives look perfect, or talk a good game. It’s tempting to try and describe yourself the same way.

But keep in mind that we don’t see what’s not posted, or what’s left unsaid. People aren’t as quick to post their flaws and skeletons. So, while it’s okay to accentuate the best parts of you – your strengths – remember to be both flattering and honest. This will work across most situations.

Check out these quotes on being yourself and these 365 positive words to use daily for inspiration and the encouragement you need to embrace and present your true self.

One skill everyone should have, whether you’re applying to college or for a job, is how to describe yourself in a way that’s both accurate and unique. In other words, what are some interesting, eye-catching words to describe yourself with?

We list more than 250 describing words and give you tips for figuring out how to pick words that best suit you and your personality. But first, what are some situations in which you’d need to know describing words?

Why Might You Need to Describe Yourself?

Before we dive into our list of words to describe yourself, let’s answer an important question: why would you actually need to know any of these words? Put differently, in what situations would you need the following words to describe someone or yourself?

Here are some key instances you’ll want to use these words to describe yourself:

• Cover letter: A cover letter is required for most job applications; it emphasizes the best and most impressive aspects of yourself as a job candidate. As a result, you’ll need to pick words that really make you stand out in a positive light.
• Job interview: It’s common for an interviewer to ask you to describe yourself in a number of words; therefore, it’s important that you know some unique words you can use if you end up getting asked this basic interview question.
• College application/personal essay: Most college applications require applicants to submit a personal statement (though not all do!). Your essay will stand out if you have some original and interesting words to describe yourself.
• Online profile: Spice up your personal online profile, such as a dating profile or social media profile, by sprinkling in a few eye-catching adjectives.

Furthermore, if English is not your native language, this list of words to describe yourself can be a really great study resource you can use to learn some new vocabulary words!

Most of these words are adjectives, but you’ll also come across some nouns, too. We’ve divided up our list of words to describe someone in the following categories:

• Cover Letter/Job Interview
• College Application
• Online Profile

All words are listed in alphabetical order.

Words to Describe Yourself in a Cover Letter/Job Interview

You can use these professional words to describe yourself on a cover letter or in a job interview.

Interviewers often ask candidates to describe themselves in one to three words, so familiarizing yourself with some particularly interesting (and, of course, truthful!) words you can use to describe yourself should give you a leg up in the interview process.

We’ll also give you a list of words you should not use to describe yourself on a cover letter and in a job interview.

• Accomplished
• Accountable
• Adaptable
• Adept [at something]
• Ambitious
• Analytical
• Articulate
• Assertive
• Attentive
• Authentic
• Balanced
• Bilingual
• Brave
• Calm
• Candid
• Capable
• Careful
• Cheerful
• Collaborative
• Committed
• Communicative
• Community-minded
• Compassionate
• Confident
• Conscientious
• Consistent
• Constructive
• Cooperative
• Courageous
• Creative
• Cultured
• Curious
• Customer-focused
• Daring
• Decisive
• Dedicated
• Dependable
• Detail-oriented
• Determined
• Diligent
• Diplomatic
• Direct
• Discerning
• Driven
• Dynamic
• Easygoing
• Efficient
• Encouraging
• Energetic
• Enterprising
• Entrepreneurial
• Ethical
• Experienced
• Extroverted
• Fair
• Fast
• Fearless
• Flexible
• Friendly
• Genuine
• Goal-oriented
• Hardworking
• High-achieving
• Honest
• Imaginative
• Impartial
• Independent
• Innovative
• Integrity
• International
• Introverted
• Inventive
• Judicious
• Knowledgeable
• Leader
• Level-headed
• Loyal
• Mature
• Mediator
• Methodical
• Meticulous
• Mindful
• Motivated
• Multilingual
• Objective
• Observant
• Open-minded
• Optimistic
• Organized
• Outgoing
• Particular
• Passionate
• Patient
• Perceptive
• Perfectionist
• Perseverant
• Persistent
• Personable
• Persuasive
• Positive
• Practical
• Pragmatic
• Precise
• Proactive
• Problem solver
• Productive
• Professional
• Punctual
• Quick
• Rational
• Receptive [to criticism]
• Reflective
• Reliable
• Resolute
• Resourceful
• Respectful
• Responsible
• Results-driven
• Revenue-focused
• Self-disciplined
• Self-reliant
• Self-starter
• Sensible
• Serious
• Skilled
• Strategic
• Successful
• Tactful
• Team player
• Tech-savvy
• Tenacious
• Thorough
• Tidy
• Tolerant
• Trustworthy
• Understanding
• Unique
• Upbeat
• Versatile
• Visionary
• Worldly

Words to NOT Use to Describe Yourself in a Job Interview

All the words above are fair game for a cover letter and/or job interview, just as long as they’re true about you and you use them in a way that doesn’t make it come across like bragging.

Now, here are some words you should avoid using in a professional situation, as they can make you sound self-centered, pretentious, or simply unoriginal:

• Experienced
• Flawless
• Humble
• Intelligent
• Likable
• Perfect
• Popular
• Powerful
• Smart
• Wise

In addition to these words, you should avoid any words with a clearly negative connotation, such as «lazy,» «loud,» «moody,» and so on.

Words to Describe Yourself on a College Application

College applications are all about showcasing your biggest strengths, how you’ll fit with the school, and your authentic self.

Unlike job interviews and cover letters, you’re typically allowed (and encouraged) to get a little more personal on college applications, especially with the personal essay, which highlights your positive qualities and who you are as a person.

Here are some words to describe yourself on a college application. (Note that many of these words overlap with those on the list above.) Afterward, we’ll give you some examples of words you should avoid in your college application.

• Accomplished
• Adaptable
• Adept [at something]
• Advocate
• Ambitious
• Artistic
• Athletic
• Brave
• Bubbly
• Capable
• Careful
• Caring
• Cautious
• Collaborative
• Compassionate
• Conscientious
• Cooperative
• Courageous
• Creative
• Curious
• Daring
• Dedicated
• Determined
• Diligent
• Down-to-earth
• Driven
• Empathetic
• Enthusiastic
• Extroverted
• Fearless
• Friendly
• Fun
• Funny
• Generous
• Gentle
• Goal-oriented
• Hardworking
• High-achieving
• Honest
• Humorous
• Imaginative
• Independent
• Integrity
• International
• Introverted
• Leader
• Loyal
• Meticulous
• Modest
• Motivated
• Musical
• Open-minded
• Optimistic
• Organized
• Outdoorsy
• Outgoing
• Passionate
• Perfectionist
• Perseverant
• Polite
• Proactive
• Problem solver
• Productive
• Professional
• Reliable
• Resilient
• Responsible
• Scholarly
• Scientific
• Self-disciplined
• Self-reliant
• Sincere
• Skilled
• Social butterfly
• Strong
• Strong-willed
• Studious
• Supportive
• Talented
• Tenacious
• Thoughtful
• Understanding
• Unique

Words to NOT Use to Describe Yourself on a College Application

You really want to avoid seeming pretentious or entitled in your college essay. As such, I advise against using any of these words to describe yourself:

• Amazing
• Deserving [of something]
• Flawless
• Genius
• Intelligent
• Likable
• Perfect
• Popular
• Prodigy
• Rich
• Smart
• Wise

In addition, do not use any clearly negative describing words; here are some examples:

• Careless
• Lazy
• Noncommittal
• Oblivious
• Selfish
• Unmotivated
• Xenophobic

Words to Describe Yourself in an Online Profile

This last set of words to describe yourself can be used in more casual, relaxed spaces, such as an online dating profile or a social media account.

You could also use these words to describe someone else, such as a character in a work of fiction you’re writing.

• Active
• Adventurous
• Affectionate
• Alternative
• Amiable
• Approachable
• Articulate
• Artistic
• Assertive
• Athletic
• Awkward
• Brave
• Bubbly
• Calm
• Candid
• Carefree
• Clever
• Clumsy
• Competitive
• Confident
• Conservative
• Considerate
• Controversial
• Courteous
• Crazy
• Creative
• Dedicated
• Devoted
• Down-to-earth
• Easygoing
• Eccentric
• Eclectic
• Educated
• Emotional
• Empathetic
• Energetic
• Enthusiastic
• Exuberant
• Family-oriented
• Fearless
• Fierce
• Fit
• Forgiving
• Friendly
• Fun
• Funny
• Generous
• Genuine
• Good listener
• Goofy
• Gregarious
• Happy
• Hardworking
• Health nut
• Helpful
• Honest
• Humble
• Humorous
• Idealistic
• Independent
• Insightful
• Instinctive
• Intelligent
• Intense
• Interesting
• Intuitive
• Kind
• Kindhearted
• Laid-back
• Loving
• Meditative
• Meticulous
• Modest
• Motivated
• Musical
• [Noun] lover
• Open-minded
• Original
• Outspoken
• Passionate
• Peaceful
• Perceptive
• Perfectionist
• Philosophical
• Playful
• Progressive
• Protective
• Proud
• Quiet
• Quirky
• Random
• Rational
• Rebellious
• Reflective
• Religious
• Respectful
• Risk taker
• Romantic
• Self-assured
• Selfless
• Sensible
• Sensitive
• Sensuous
• Serious
• Sexy
• Shrewd
• Shy
• Silly
• Sincere
• Social butterfly
• Soft-spoken
• Sophisticated
• Spiritual
• Spontaneous
• Sporty
• Stable
• Strong
• Strong-willed
• Studious
• Successful
• Sweet
• Tenacious
• Thoughtful
• Tough
• Traditional
• Trustworthy
• Unconventional
• Unique
• Unusual
• Upbeat
• Vibrant
• Warm
• Warmhearted
• Wise
• Witty

Words to NOT Use to Describe Yourself in an Online Profile

How you talk about yourself in an online profile is really up to you and can be pretty casual, too (as long as it’s not a professional LinkedIn profile). You’ll want to stick to predominantly positive words, but sometimes words that describe your funny or entertaining flaws could be worth including.

That said, here are some words you should never put down in a profile as they can make you come across as highly self-centered, rude, and frankly unapproachable!

• Amazing
• Apathetic
• Arrogant
• Careless
• Dumb
• Genius
• Inconsiderate
• Incredible
• Lazy
• Mean
• Perfect
• Rude
• Selfish
• Superior
• Thoughtless
• Unmotivated
• Wonderful

How to Describe Yourself: 4 Tips for Finding the Right Words

It’s not easy choosing the right words to describe yourself—but knowing exactly what you want to highlight about yourself can help you figure out the best describing words to use, whether they’re for a cover letter, personal essay, or online dating profile.

Here are four tips to help you brainstorm and find the right words to describe yourself with.

#1: Consider Your Audience

One of the most important things you’ll need to consider before writing down tons of adjectives to describe yourself is your audience, or the person/people who will be hearing or reading the words you choose to use.

Your audience will play a fairly significant role in the words you ultimately choose, as you’ll need to make sure you’re coming across to them the way you want to.

For example, if your audience is a potential employer, you should use describing words that make you sound like an ideal fit at the company and that help you stand apart from other candidates (if you’re not memorable, you likely won’t get the job!).

Here are the general types of describing words different audiences will want to hear when it comes to describing yourself:

• For job interviews/cover letters: Positive describing words that emphasize your (relevant) skills, experience, professional interests, and company fit
• For college applications: Positive words that express your authentic personality, academic accomplishments/skills, ambitions, and overall school fit
• For online profiles: Positive words (though it might be worth throwing in some «flaws» for humorous effect or to stand out from others!) that stress your individual personality traits, skills, and interests—keep it casual, too!

Once you’ve got your audience down, it’s time to start thinking about your biggest strengths and most prominent personality traits.

#2: Think About Your Biggest Strengths

Whenever you’re describing yourself, you should always emphasize your biggest strengths, that is, your very best qualities!

These can be any describing words that you personally see as strengths (even if others don’t think the same—it’s OK to try to change their minds). More importantly, these should be words that you feel best encapsulate who you are.

For example, I was once asked to describe myself in three words during a job interview. One of the words I used was «introverted» because I’ve always felt a strong connection to this word.

Though the word tends to have a slightly negative connotation, I took a bit of time to explain to my interviewers exactly why I saw introversion as a strength and how this trait would actually help me effectively perform my job.

So what’s the lesson? Don’t be afraid to be yourself—use words that reflect what you value in life and what you like most about yourself.

#3: Ask Others How They Would Describe You

If you’re struggling to figure out how to describe yourself, it’s a great idea to ask others close to you how they would describe you if asked by somebody else. Doing this can give you a clearer, more objective view of your strengths (and weaknesses) and help you figure out what types of words are most applicable to you.

If possible, ask a range of people to describe you, from family and friends to former coworkers.

For example, if you’re applying to college, it’ll help to get describing words about you from those connected to the college application process, such as your teachers and recommendation letter writers.

Simply ask them to write down a few words (adjectives or nouns) that best describe you and your academic or personal strengths, based on what they know about you.

#4: Be Careful Not to Exaggerate

Finally, take care to avoid any describing words that exaggerate your strengths or make you seem different from who you really are.

Remember that the point of describing yourself is to paint an authentic, positive portrait of yourself to your audience, whoever they are. If you lie or exaggerate something about yourself, then you’re not accurately revealing who you are, which could confuse, anger, or disappoint your audience.

For instance, you probably wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) use the word «artistic» to describe yourself if you only ever painted a few pictures for an art class years ago and didn’t enjoy the process.

Think of your interests and any personality traits or skills that come with these; this could help narrow down specific traits that are more relevant to you.

What’s Next?

Applying to college? Then you’ll need to know what a personal statement is. Once you’ve got the gist of it, check out our guide to how to write a great college essay and look at our compilation of 100+ college essay examples.

Got an interview coming up for a job or for college? It’s important to be prepared. Aside from being asked to describe yourself, you might get asked any of these 14 questions.

Need to write a cover letter? You’ll definitely want to read our expert guides on how to write one for a job and how to write one for graduate school.

Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article!

There are so many descriptive words out there…

And yet sometimes you may still struggle to find the right words to describe yourself.

Hey, we don’t blame you. Choosing the words to describe yourself can be a tricky task.

On the one hand, you want to show your positive traits. On the other hand, you might not want to overdo it with self-praise.

Things get even trickier when you’re applying for college or a job and you need to find the most suitable words to describe yourself.

Honestly, we know the struggle — this is why we wrote this article.

95+ Best Words to Describe Yourself 

They say actions speak louder than words, but sometimes you can only rely on words to describe yourself.  

For example, before you can prove your professional or academic capabilities, you first have to express yourself through your college application, your interview with recruiters, or your resume. 

Your online personae — from your social media usernames to the adjectives you use to describe yourself on various platforms (e.g. a dating app) — is also defined by your choice of words. 

Considering how important all of the above is, there’s no doubt you’d want to nail the words to describe yourself. 

To help you pick the right words, we’ve compiled a list of the best 100 words to describe yourself in any situation: 

Best Words to Describe Yourself: 

• Adaptable
• Adept
• Adventurous
• Affectionate
• Ambitious
• Artistic
• Assertive
• Attentive
• Authentic
• Approachable
• Balanced
• Bright
• Broad-minded
• Candid
• Cheerful
• Chill
• Clever
• Communicative
• Compassionate
• Competitive
• Charismatic
• Considerate
• Constructive
• Courageous
• Creative
• Curious
• Dependable
• Determined
• Direct
• Dynamic
• Easygoing
• Eclectic
• Emotional
• Energetic
• Enthusiastic
• Extroverted
• Exuberant
• Fearless
• Flexible
• Forgiving
• Friendly
• Fun
• Funny
• Generous
• Genuine
• Joyful
• Happy
• Helpful
• Honest
• Imaginative
• Independent
• Romantic
• Risk-taker
• Intelligent
• Intuitive
• Inventive
• Inspiring
• Knowledgeable
• Kind
• Logical
• Loyal
• Loving
• Mature
• Modest
• Motivated
• Open-minded
• Optimistic
• Original
• Outgoing
• Passionate
• Patient
• Perceptive
• Persistent
• Pleasant
• Practical
• Reliable
• Respectful
• Responsible
• Self-reliant
• Sensible
• Sensitive
• Sincere
• Sociable
• Socially conscious
• Straightforward
• Strong
• Successful
• Sympathetic
• Tenacious
• Thoughtful
• Tolerant
• Tough
• Trustworthy
• Understanding
• Upbeat
• Versatile
• Vibrant
• Warmhearted
• Wise

45 Words to Describe Yourself in a Job Interview

A common job interview question is “what are 3 words to describe yourself?” 

When recruiters ask you to describe yourself, they are looking to find out two things: 

• Do your personality and skills match the job requirements?
• Are you honest in your answers?

Keep this in mind and it will be much easier to answer this typical interview question successfully. 

Now, if you’re wondering how, exactly, you should answer this question, here’s what we recommend:

1. Choose adjectives that are relevant to the position you’re applying for (as long as they fit you, of course). 
2. Back up your answer with examples of how you embody the quality or skill. This will prove that you are answering honestly.

Let’s see how this works through an example. Say you’re applying to be a teacher and you’re asked “what are three words to describe yourself?”   

Here’s how NOT to go about it: 

• I am creative, competitive, and tenacious.

Now, there’s nothing technically wrong with these adjectives; however, the answer isn’t the best possible for two main reasons: 

1. Competitiveness and tenacity are not the most sought-after skills for teachers. 
2. The claims are not backed up with concrete examples. You could really be creative, or you could be exaggerating. Without backing it up, the recruiter can’t tell which one it is.

Here’s a more interview-friendly way to answer this question: 

• To begin with, I am creative — in my last school, I came up with an SAT exam preparation technique that raised the graduating class’s success rate by more than 30%. I am helpful, both to my students and colleagues — I often stay after class to clarify any questions students may have and I fill in for other teachers whenever I can. Finally, I am very passionate about my work and my students. I’ve been in the field for over 10 years, and I plan on sticking with it for as long as I can.

Here’s a list of words you can use to describe yourself in a job interview: 

Words to Describe Yourself in a Job Interview 

• Attentive
• Artistic
• Ambitious
• Analytical
• Caring
• Committed
• Consistent
• Cooperative
• Devoted
• Diplomatic
• Experienced
• Extroverted
• Focused
• Good listener
• Hardworking
• Helpful
• Insightful
• Innovative
• Methodical
• Meticulous
• Motivated
• Objective
• Observant
• Organized
• Persevering 
• Persuasive
• Proactive
• Problem solver
• Productive
• Professional
• Proficient
• Resourceful
• Results-oriented
• Disciplined
• Team player
• Thorough
• Tireless
• Trustworthy
• Sociable 
• Skilled
• Strategic
• Systematic

Note

Wondering what other questions might come up in a job interview? Check our list of 35+ interview questions and answers. 

40 Words to Describe Yourself in a Resume

When it comes to your resume, you won’t be directly asked to find three words to describe yourself. That doesn’t mean, however, that you shouldn’t care about the adjectives you choose to describe yourself on your resume. 

On the contrary — before even inviting you at the job interview, it’s your resume that speaks for you. So, your choice of words to describe yourself there is arguably even more important.

Of course, it’s not enough to just insert some adjectives here and there and call it a day. Instead, you need to find the right way to “sell yourself.” In this section, we’ll teach you just how you can do that.

Your resume profile is the first place to add the right words to describe yourself. Be it through a resume summary, or a resume objective, you’ll need to find at least one strong adjective to describe yourself and make a good — and lasting — impression. 

If you ask us, that’s pretty essential, considering that most recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds skimming through a resume. Talk about first impressions mattering, right?

Keep in mind, though — 

Just like with the interview, plugging in some adjectives to describe yourself won’t cut it. 

• First, you should make sure to choose adjectives relevant to the job. 
• Second, remember to always back up your claims with examples — or, in this case, achievements. 

Let’s assume that you’re a recent college graduate applying as a Communications Assistant. Your resume objective would look something like this:

Hard-working and passionate college graduate looking to apply up-to-date skills and strategies as a Communications Assistant at the Regional Youth Cooperation Office. 1+ years of practical experience as an intern at the Mayor’s Communications Office.  

Even if you’re a seasoned professional with many achievements to show, you’ll need an adjective to describe yourself. In such a case, your resume summary would look something like this: 

Task-driven professional experienced in data entry, customer service, and reception duties. Able to perform accurate and efficient entry of data into administrative software. 

Get the idea? Here are some more adjectives to choose from: 

Words to Describe Yourself in a Resume

• Accomplished
• Accountable
• Bold
• Collaborative
• Competent
• Confident
• Conscientious
• Cooperative
• Data-driven
• Detail-oriented
• Eager
• Efficient
• Emotionally intelligent
• Entrepreneurial
• Ethical
• Experienced
• Expert
• Flexible
• Gregarious
• Motivated
• Organized
• People person
• Persistent
• Personable
• Professional
• Proficient
• Resourceful
• Self-assured
• Self-starter
• Skilled
• Skillful
• Sociable
• Strategic
• Team player
• Thoughtful 
• Tireless
• Unconventional

40 Words to Describe Yourself on a College Application

The majority of college applications require that you submit a personal statement. 

Personal statements are a way to promote yourself and show why you are the right candidate for a certain program. Unlike motivation letters, where you’re supposed to explain your academic objectives, personal statements allow space for creativity. 

Thus, you can get more expressive and personal with the words to describe yourself in a college application, as opposed to your resume or job interview. As an undergrad candidate, you are supposed to highlight your strengths and show what makes you unique. 

Here are some adjectives you can use for inspiration:

Words to Describe Yourself in a College Application 

• Artistic
• Athletic
• Authentic 
• Brave
• Committed
• Compassionate
• Courageous
• Curious
• Daring
• Dedicated
• Diligent
• Down-to-earth
• Enthusiastic
• Extroverted
• Fearless
• Generous
• Genuine
• Go-getter
• Idealistic
• Imaginative 
• Independent
• Inspired
• Loyal
• Motivated
• Musical
• Open-minded
• Outdoorsy
• Positive
• Productive
• Resilient
• Respectful
• Risk-taker
• Scholarly
• Self-reliant
• Sincere
• Social butterfly
• Studious
• Supportive
• Unique

10 Words NOT to Describe Yourself (Professionally)

As you can imagine, there are also words you should refrain from using to describe yourself — especially in the professional context. 

Not that these adjectives are bad per se — however, they might not arouse the expected reaction when you use them out of context. What do we mean?

Take the following example. Imagine using these words to describe yourself in a job interview: 

“How would I describe myself? Let’s see, I’m amazing, funny, and unique.” 

Now, it’d be more than OK if a colleague — or anyone, for that matter — described you this way. Calling yourself amazing in front of recruiters, however? Might be a bit too much, without really saying anything at all.

Here’s a list of our top 10 words NOT to describe yourself (outside of your friends’ circle):

1. Amazing 
2. Awesome 
3. Dynamic 
4. Funny
5. Honest
6. Humble
7. Intelligent 
8. Talented
9. Visionary
10. Unique

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! We hope that by now you’re equipped with many more words to describe yourself. 

Let’s go over some of the main points we covered in the article: 

• Many situations will require that you find the right words to describe yourself. A resume, job interview, or college application are among the most common. 
• During a job interview, make sure to use words to describe yourself that are relevant to the job and to back up your claims with examples. 
• Your resume profile is your chance to make a memorable first impression — scan the job ad to choose adjectives that are relevant to the position and back them up with your achievements. 
• There are some words you should not use to describe yourself — if it can’t be backed with concrete examples if it sounds generic, or if it’s an adjective that makes more sense being said for you (and not by you), then stay away.  

Autological words are words that describe themselves—as opposed to all the heterological words that don’t. The adjective pentasyllabic is autological, for example, since it has five syllables. Monosyllabic, on the other hand, is heterological, since it has far more than one. People who love words and puzzles might want to take a moment here to ask themselves if the adjective heterological is heterological or not. If it describes itself, it must not be heterological. But if it doesn’t describe itself, then it must be. In which case it must not be. While the puzzle fans are puzzling, maybe the rest of us can just read on, to enjoy talking about a few words that like to talk about themselves.

Word

The word word is too old to assign a beginning to. The etymological trail recedes into the origins of the English language itself, to the long-lost Germanic root that also gave German the word Wort. The first written attestation of “worde” in English is found in the Catholic Homilies of Ælfric of Eynsham (around 990), carrying meanings that are still current today: words are things you can say or write down, and it’s important to follow through when you give somebody your word.

Over the centuries, word has taken on a great variety of weighty meanings, reflecting the human tendency to see words as important, powerful, and even quasi-magical. The ancient Greek habit of talking about “the Word” (Logos) as a kind of rational creative force at the heart of the cosmos was, for example, famously baptized into Christian culture as the belief that “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1). This idea that words can do things is reflected in the way word was used for centuries as a verb: a wordsmith like Thomas Goffe could therefore hope to “word away” his troubles (Raging Turke, 1631). We only treat word as a verb today, though, when we discuss the way something is worded — another usage that goes back to the 17th century. This abiding interest in how things are worded reflects the timeless importance of words and their use. Most of us quickly lose patience with a mess of misused and mangled words, for example — the kind of thing classified under the colourful psychiatric term word salad (G. S. Hall, Adolescence, 1904).

Pidgin

It may look like a peculiar misspelling of a common bird’s name, but the origins of pidgin are entirely unrelated to those of pigeon. A pidgin is a simplified language that bridges two or more natural languages. The term developed out of the way 19th-century Chinese traders pronounced the word business, and it soon came to describe the creative quasi-English these traders and their European counterparts used to communicate. Eventually, the word pidgin evolved to mean any artificial language developed for the sake of doing business.

The earliest written attestations all mean business, and spell the word like the bird. The missionary Robert Morrison, for example, wrote about Cantonese locals taking care of pigeon (1807). Over time, though, the spelling pidgin became dominant. At the turn of the century, people unwilling to get involved in somebody else’s business excused themselves by saying, “that’s not my pidgin” (Sydney Bulletin, 1902). The word first appears in print with a linguistic connotation in the mid-19th century, also spelled pigeon (Galaxy Magazine, 1869). Before too long, though, pidgin also appears in print describing the phenomenon of hybrid trade languages (R. L. Stevenson, In South Seas, 1896). These historical developments transformed the rough-and-ready approximate pronunciation of “business” into a full-fledged autological English word. As the quasi-English offspring of international business, the word pidgin is (like the word word) an example of itself.

Sesquipedalian

The word sesquipedalian is used to describe long words, particularly those that are needlessly long. The ultimate source of the sesquipedalian word sesquipedalian is the Latin poet Horace (65-8 BCE) who combined sesqui, a prefix meaning “one and a half more”, with pes, meaning “foot”. In The Art of Poetry, he advised against showing off with sesquipedalia verba.

The mocking adjective was borrowed by English writers who wanted to join Horace in laughing at the “puzling sesquepedalian words” that pedantic people love to toss around (Confused Characters of Conceited Coxcombs, 1661).

In time, the anglicized adjective gave rise to an anglicized noun. An English writer might complain, for example, about the annoyances of “hard names and sesquipedalians” (Fraser’s Magazine for Town and Country, 1830). The adjective was also extended to include the kind of person who might use words a foot and a half long: “Towards the end of her letter Miss Jenkyns used to become quite sesquipedalian” (E. C. Gaskell, Cranford, 1853).

Over the years, the word sesquipedalian sometimes drifted further into simply meaning “big”, with odd results. In his novel Barchester Towers (1857), Anthony Trollope uses the word sesquipedalian to describe an unusually tall manservant. The problem with this description is obvious: “a foot and half” is not very tall, as menservants go. Presumably, Trollope just thought the big word sounded impressive. He was seduced into trying to spice up his writing with a long, unhelpful word—a sesquipedalian word. If you listen carefully, you can almost hear Horace laughing.