comportment

[ kuhm-pawrt-muhnt, -pohrt- ]

noun

1. personal bearing or conduct; demeanor; behavior.

comportment

/ kəmˈpɔːtmənt /

noun

1. conduct; bearing

Word History and Origins

Origin of comportment¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French comportement; comport ¹, -ment

Synonym Study

See behavior.

Example Sentences

But the jury is more likely to evaluate the evidence in the context of the whole narrative and a witness’ general comportment.

From Los Angeles Times

“This is way before internet and all that,” he said, so listeners had no idea what their musical heroes’ “comportment was, how they sounded, anything. So what you have is these words that gave you this peek into their personality.”

From New York Times

His story is an archetypal tragedy, in which personal exceptionalism meets catastrophically with systemic prejudice — in his case, not only toward his race, but against his youthful, pan-cultural fame, his blatant ambition, his physical beauty and charisma, and his louche comportment.

From New York Times

Well, because he wants to be president—that much has been clear since he accepted an invitation to be Donald Trump’s running mate in 2016 despite his obvious incompatibility with Trump as a matter of both personal comportment and ideology.

From Slate

Because judging from the comportment of its chief, the court now believes itself to be above the Constitution itself.

From Slate