extrovert

1 of 2

noun

ex·​tro·​vert ˈek-strə-ˌvərt How to pronounce extrovert (audio)
variants or less commonly extravert
plural extroverts also extraverts
: a person whose personality is characterized by extroversion : a typically gregarious and unreserved person who enjoys and seeks out social interaction
Extroverts are more recognized because of their affable nature, while introverts struggle to break out of their personal space …Helen Wu

Note: The psychologist Carl Gustav Jung first introduced the terms extrovert, extroversion, introvert, and introversion in the early 1900s to describe personality types that focus a person's energy on either the inner or outer world. The terms extrovert and introvert have since become widely popularized, with extrovert often broadly used to mean "an outgoing, sociable, or talkative person."

… an extrovert who is hopelessly chatty …Rick Reilly
compare introvert entry 1 sense 1

extrovert

2 of 2

adjective

variants or less commonly extravert
: extroverted
an extrovert nature
Beckett's father was extrovert and adored.Anthony Burgess

Did you know?

Jung and the Extrovert

Extrovert (sometimes spelled extravert) means basically "turned outward"—that is, toward things outside oneself. The word was coined by the eminent psychologist C. G. Jung in the early 20th century. The opposite personality type, in Jung's view, was the introvert. Extroverts seem to be favored by societies such as ours, even though introverts seem to be on average more mentally gifted. Psychologists have said that the only personality traits that can be identified in newborn infants are shyness and lack of shyness, which are fairly close to—but not really the same as—introversion and extroversion.

Examples of extrovert in a Sentence

Noun a natural extrovert, he mixes well in any social situation
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Case in point, introverts thrive at one-on-one interactions and focused conversations in smaller groups compared to extroverts. Kara Dennison, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 While the game seems like a nightmare to extroverts and those dependent on modern luxuries, Alone provides its viewers with practical survival knowledge and encourages introspection in a world overwhelmed with media distractions. Briana Richert, James Mercadante, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2024 Unlike extroverts who typically listen to respond, introverts listen to understand. Kara Dennison, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 While social outings can be fun, even extroverts crave a cozy night in sometimes. Jamie Fischer, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2023 Having both extroverts and introverts read the book would also be helpful for bridging the gap between the personality types. Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 8 Dec. 2023 Advertisement While extroverts took the spotlight, introverts struggled to stay engaged on the periphery — liquid courage sometimes fueling both. Vignesh Ramachandran, Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2023 Carl Jung’s research on introverts and extroverts found introverts prefer environments that aren’t overwhelming and require more time to recover their energy when they are stimulated. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 27 July 2023 Certainly none of these people pushed extroverts to stop posting about their cancer battles on social media. Victoria Westerleigh*, Good Housekeeping, 15 July 2023
Adjective
Lopez-Galvan's was described as an extrovert and devoted mother by Rosa Izurieta and Martha Ramirez, two childhood friends who worked with her at a staffing company, according to the Associated Press. Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2024 Everyone thinks everyone coming on is a naturist or massive extrovert who just runs around naked. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Oct. 2023 Put simplistically, the dynamic was extrovert versus introvert. Holland Cotter, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2023 Not everyone is an extrovert and able to handle the stimulation of being around other people for an extended period of time. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 8 Sep. 2023 On Team Mickey are Arthur, who goes by Spoon (Adrian Greensmith), a nerdy extrovert, and Ema (Abby Corrigan), sullen and goth; opposing them are aggressive jocks Troy (Brian Altemus) and Buck (Antonio Cipriano). Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2023 An extrovert eight-year-old girl prepares with her parents a vacation trip, interrupted by a tragic accident in the desert. John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Aug. 2023 Speaking engagements are ideal opportunities for extrovert leaders who enjoy presenting to an audience. Jessica Wong, Forbes, 21 June 2022 Jeffrey Westbrook Extroverts The textbook extrovert is sociable, assertive, strong in leadership roles, and open to new experiences, Wilmot says. Addison Aloian, Women's Health, 3 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'extrovert.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

back-formation from extroverted

Adjective

from attributive use of extrovert entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1918, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of extrovert was in 1918

Dictionary Entries Near extrovert

Cite this Entry

“Extrovert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extrovert. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

extrovert

noun
ex·​tro·​vert
variants also extravert
1
: a person who is interested only or mostly in things outside the self
2
: a gregarious and unreserved person
extroversion
ˌek-strə-ˈvər-zhən
-shən
noun
extroverted
ˈek-strə-ˌvərt-əd
adjective

Medical Definition

extrovert

1 of 2 noun
variants also extravert
: a person whose personality is characterized by extroversion : a typically gregarious and unreserved person who enjoys and seeks out social interaction

Note: The psychologist C. G. Jung first introduced the terms extrovert, extroversion, introvert, and introversion in the early 1900s to describe personality types that focus a person's energy on either the inner or outer world. The terms extrovert and introvert have since become widely popularized with extrovert often broadly used to mean "an outgoing, sociable, or talkative person."

compare introvert

extrovert

2 of 2 adjective
ex·​tro·​vert
variants also extravert

More from Merriam-Webster on extrovert

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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