A mannerism is a distinctive habit or way of doing something that becomes characteristic of a particular person. It might be the way your friend always pushes their glasses up their nose, even when the glasses aren't sliding down. Or how your teacher drums her fingers on the desk while thinking. Or the way your grandfather clears his throat before telling a story.

Mannerisms are usually small, repeated behaviors that a person does without really thinking about it. They're not the same as doing something on purpose: a mannerism happens almost automatically. You might have a mannerism of twirling your hair when you're concentrating, or your best friend might have a mannerism of saying “you know” between sentences.

Artists and actors pay close attention to mannerisms because they help make characters feel real and unique. When an actor portrays a historical figure, they often study that person's mannerisms, like how they walked, gestured, or held their head. In art, the word can also describe a particular artistic style, especially one that's elaborate or exaggerated, but the everyday meaning refers to those little personal quirks that make someone distinctly themselves.

Some mannerisms are charming, some are neutral, and some can be distracting. The key is that they're consistent and recognizable: when you see that gesture or hear that phrase, you immediately think of that specific person.