noun. a habitual or characteristic manner, mode, or way of doing something; distinctive quality or style, as in behavior or speech: He has an annoying mannerism of tapping his fingers while he talks. They copied his literary mannerisms but always lacked his ebullience.

What is a mannerism person?

Someone's mannerisms are the gestures or ways of speaking that are very characteristic of them, and which they often use. His mannerisms are more those of a preoccupied math professor. Synonyms: habit, characteristic, trait, quirk More Synonyms of mannerism.

Is mannerism a bad word?

Generally, we don't use then term mannerism as a critical term for our friends' behavior, but when applied as a term of art criticism, it can be a negative thing. If a critic talks about a writer's mannerisms, for example, it's probably intended as an insult — suggesting they're writing in a lazy or clichéd way.