What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
temper
Example
He has a bad temper and gets angry easily. [temper: noun]
Example
She tried to temper her disappointment with some positive thinking. [temper: verb]
temperament
Example
Her calm temperament helped her deal with the stressful situation. [temperament: noun]
Example
His artistic temperament made him sensitive to beauty and creativity. [temperament: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Temper is more commonly used than temperament in everyday language. Temper is a versatile word that can be used to describe a range of emotional states, while temperament is a more specific term that is often used in more formal or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between temper and temperament?
While temper can be used in both formal and informal contexts, temperament is generally considered a more formal or technical term that is used in more specialized fields such as psychology or medicine.