charisma

American  

[kuh-riz-muh] / kəˈrɪz mə /

Also charism

noun

plural

charismata

1. Theology. a divinely conferred gift or power.

2. a spiritual power or personal quality that gives an individual influence or authority over large numbers of people.

   Synonyms:

   presence, magnetism, charm

3. the special virtue of an office, function, position, etc., that confers or is thought to confer on the person holding it an unusual ability for leadership, worthiness of veneration, or the like.

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charisma British  

/ ˈkærɪzəm, kəˈrɪzmə, ˌkærɪzˈmætɪk /

noun

1. a special personal quality or power of an individual making him capable of influencing or inspiring large numbers of people

2. a quality inherent in a thing which inspires great enthusiasm and devotion

3. Christianity a divinely bestowed power or talent

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charisma Cultural  

1. Extraordinary power and appeal of personality; natural ability to inspire a large following.

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Usage

What does charisma mean? Charisma is the magnetic and charming personal quality that draws people to someone. People who have an outgoing, energetic, and likable personality that seems to naturally draw other people to them are said to have charisma. Such people are often described with the adjective form of the word, charismatic. A person with charisma is thought to be able to easily influence others. Charisma is most often used in a positive way as a compliment, but it is sometimes used to imply that someone’s appeal is based entirely on their outgoing personality, rather than the substance of their actions or their character. The word is also used in a religious context in a more specific way to refer to a spiritual gift or a special ability for leadership. This sense of the word is sometimes seen as charism, and can be pluralized as charismata. Example: People like a candidate who’s got charisma and can get them excited, not someone who just drones on about facts and figures.

Discover More

Political leaders such as John F. Kennedy, religious leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., and entertainment figures such as Greta Garbo have all been described as charismatic.

Other Word Forms

• charismatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of charisma

First recorded in 1635–45; from Late Latin, from Greek, equivalent to char- (base of cháris “favor,” charízesthai “to favor”) + -isma -ism

Explanation

Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley had great charisma, or a special personal charm or appeal that gave them influence or authority. Charisma is often a quality possessed by successful politicians or leaders, or by other public figures. The corresponding adjective is charismatic, and it applies more to personality than appearance: a handsome and charismatic actor. Charisma was borrowed from a Greek word meaning "favor, gift," from charizesthai, "to favor," from charis, "grace."

Example Sentences

More than most genres, rom-coms rely on the wit of their scripts and the charisma and chemistry of their stars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The good news is probably won’t work for him, since Satan himself couldn’t grant Vance more charisma.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

In an interview on the chat show Anderson On The Box in 1995, Dunbar said the bodybuilder had great charisma.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Coogler says Jordan's success in tough roles is a "testament to his charisma."

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

Later, I called Gau up and asked him to take Howard Friedman’s charisma test.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• allure
• glamour
• magnetism