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The history of demeanor begins with a threat: the word has its roots in Latin minārī, “to threaten.” A form of that word was used in contexts having to do with driving animals—that is, impelling them to move—and from this word developed more recent ancestors having to do with leading, guiding, and behaving. By the 14th century, English had a adopted a word out of this lineage: the verb demean meaning “to conduct or behave (oneself) usually in a proper manner.” (Another demean, defined as “to lower in character, status, or reputation,” entered the language later by means of another root.) The noun demeanor was formed in the following century through the addition of the suffix -or.
Examples of demeanor in a Sentence
Food & Wine, September 2002
Sam himself, a quiet young man with a rather shy demeanor, was somewhat bemused by all this attention.
—Lola Oberman, Bird Watcher's Digest, November/December 1994
her warm demeanor made us feel at home
Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 31 July 2025
Others will focus on his athleticism and demeanor and see a player who works hard staying attached.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 31 July 2025
His demeanor is innocent, but it’s encompassed in a six-foot-five frame.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 28 July 2025
Conversely, when employees feel underappreciated or unsure of their priorities, their demeanor and performance often suffer.
—Marie Unger, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for demeanor
Cite this Entry
“Demeanor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demeanor. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
demeanor
noun
Legal Definition
demeanor
noun
Note: A jury may consider a witness's demeanor on the stand in determining the witness's credibility.
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