manner

¹

[ man-er ]

noun

1. a way of doing, being done, or happening; mode of action, occurrence, etc.:

   I don't like the manner in which he complained.

   Synonyms: method

2. manners,
   1. the prevailing customs, ways of living, and habits of a people, class, period, etc.; mores:

      The novels of Jane Austen are concerned with the manners of her time.

   2. ways of behaving with reference to polite standards; social comportment:

      That child has good manners.

3. a person's outward bearing; way of speaking to and treating others:

   She has a charming manner.

   Synonyms: deportment, demeanor

4. characteristic or customary way of doing, making, saying, etc.:

   houses built in the 19th-century manner.

   Synonyms: custom, habit, style, fashion, mode

5. air of distinction:

   That old gentleman had quite a manner.

6. (used with a singular or plural verb) kind; sort:

   What manner of man is he? All manner of things were happening.

7. characteristic style in art, literature, or the like:

   verses in the manner of Spenser.

8. Obsolete.
   1. nature; character.
   2. guise; fashion.

manner

²

[ man-er ]

noun

, Old English Law.

1. mainour.

manner

/ ˈmænə /

noun

1. a way of doing or being
2. a person's bearing and behaviour

   she had a cool manner

3. the style or customary way of doing or accomplishing something

   sculpture in the Greek manner

4. type or kind

   what manner of man is this?

5. mannered style, as in art; mannerism
6. by all manner of means
   certainly; of course
7. by no manner of means
   definitely not

   he was by no manner of means a cruel man

8. in a manner of speaking
   in a way; so to speak
9. to the manner born
   naturally fitted to a specified role or activity

Word History and Origins

Origin of manner¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English manere, from Anglo-French; Old French maniere, from Vulgar Latin manuāria, noun use of feminine of manuārius “handy, convenient” ( Latin: “pertaining to the hand”), from Latin manu(s) manus + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of manner¹

C12: via Norman French from Old French maniere, from Vulgar Latin manuāria (unattested) a way of handling something, noun use of Latin manuārius belonging to the hand, from manus hand

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by all manner of means, by all means; certainly.
2. by no manner of means, under no circumstances; by no means; certainly not:

   She was by no manner of means a frivolous person.

3. in a manner of speaking, in a way; as it were; so to speak:

   We were, in a manner of speaking, babes in the woods.

4. in a manner, so to speak; after a fashion; somewhat.
5. to the manner born,
   1. accustomed by birth to a high position:

      He was a gentleman to the manner born.

   2. used to a particular custom, activity, or role from birth.

More idioms and phrases containing manner

see all kinds (manner of) ; by all (manner of) means ; company manners ; in a manner of speaking ; to the manner born .

Synonym Study

Manner, air, bearing all refer to one's outward aspect or behavior. Manner applies to a distinctive mode of behavior, or social attitude toward others, etc.: a gracious manner. Air applies to outward appearance insofar as this is distinctive or indicative: an air of martyrdom. Airs imply affectation: to put on airs. Bearing applies especially to carriage: a noble bearing.

Example Sentences

“That hamstrings us and prevents us from being able to stand up clinics in a more timely manner to address and meet the concerns of local residents,” Gayles told the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Board of Directors.

From Washington Post

Obviously, people crash in all manner of ways and at speeds slower and faster than 11 to 14 miles per hour.

From Outside Online

Schottenheimer, who had a reserved manner, was seldom quotable or colorful in public.

From Washington Post

On the first page of the ethics manual that each member is given, the representatives are advised that they are expected to “conduct themselves at all times in a manner that reflects creditably on the House.”

From Washington Post

By offering puts and calls and all manner of other fancy derivative contracts, Wall Street makes it possible for investors to wager much more money on each company than the company is actually worth.

From Washington Post

He declared that Western women are sexually promiscuous in a manner not even found in the natural world.

From The Daily Beast

We know that the skies are open season for all manner of drone traffic, from missile launchers to beer droppers.

From The Daily Beast

Both Edgar and Julio shared the same smile and light-hearted manner that I remembered and appreciated from years ago.

From The Daily Beast

Coren, a striking blond with an authoritative manner and a deep voice, stayed with the story all night and well into the next day.

From The Daily Beast

“Defendant moved his hands in a manner so as to avoid the application of handcuffs to his wrists,” the complaint says.

From The Daily Beast

I called it a spinet, because it somewhat resembled that instrument, and was played upon in the same manner.

From Project Gutenberg

And once more, she found herself desiring to be like Janet--not only in appearance, but in soft manner and tone.

From Project Gutenberg

That is the only point in which one sees Liszt's sense of his own greatness; otherwise his manner is remarkably unassuming.

From Project Gutenberg

Columbus found the natives of San Salvador smoking after this manner.

From Project Gutenberg

Not only are they required to do things in a proper orderly manner, but people have to treat them with due deference.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fashion
• form
• habit
• line
• mode
• practice
• procedure
• process
• style
• system
• technique
• tone
• way

Manner Vs. Manor

What’s the difference between manner and manor?

The word manner means a way of doing something, as in Please exit the building in an orderly manner. The plural form manners refers to polite ways of behaving. A manor is a mansion or the main house of an estate.

Both words are always used as nouns, and they are pronounced exactly the same.

Manner has a few different meanings, but they mostly all relate to how things are done or how someone behaves.

The word manor once commonly referred to an estate (the tract of land itself), but it eventually came to refer to the large house on the estate. Still, a house that you’d call a manor is usually a big mansion surrounded by a lot of land.

For example, the mansion where Bruce Wayne lives is called Wayne Manor. A good way to remember the spelling is to ask the question: Who lives in Wayne Manor—is it Batman or Bruce Wayne?

As for how to remember the spelling of manner, just remember that it would be not nice to spell it without two n’s (just downright impolite, really).

Here’s an example of manor and manner used correctly in a sentence.

Example: The grounds of the manor were decorated in a stately manner, with beautiful gardens and hedges.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between manner and manor.

Quiz yourself on manner vs. manor!

Should manner or manor be used in the following sentence?

Actors often develop a unique _____ of speaking for the character they are playing.