Not sure what the term ambivert means? You’re in the right place! Read on to discover the meaning of ambivert, its origin, synonyms, and more.
-
Kevin
-
March 5, 2022
-
Common Questions
Your writing, at its best
Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant
Like many people around the globe, you probably self-identify as an introvert or extrovert— but did you know that these personality traits fall on a spectrum?
Yup, it’s true; rather than introversion and extroversion being mutually exclusive, personality types are on a spectrum. This means that an individual rarely fits completely on one side or the other but falls somewhere in the middle.
Someone could be closer to the extrovert side or the introvert side. That being said, if you’re someone who feels as though you don’t fit neatly in either category, you could be an ambivert — or someone who falls in the middle of the introvert/extrovert continuum.
Interested in discovering more about the meaning of ambivert? We can help. Read on as we explore the term’s definition, origin, synonyms, and more.
What Is the Definition of Ambivert?
To understand the meaning of ambivert, let’s take a look at some definitions from a few reputable sources:
- According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, ambivert can be defined as an individual having characteristics of both introverts and extroverts.
- Defined by the Collins English Dictionary as one whose personality type is intermediate between introvert and extrovert, the term ambivert is commonly used in psychology.
- In a different definition provided by the Cambridge Dictionary, the noun ambivert refers to a person who has features of both an introvert (meaning someone who prefers to spend time alone) and an extrovert (meaning someone who prefers to be with other people) in their personality.
Although each definition varies slightly, we can conclude that the term ambivert can be defined as someone whose personality has a perfect balance of introvert and extrovert features. In other words, it refers to an individual who falls in between the two extremes, possessing some tendencies of each.
What Is the Origin of Ambivert?
Created by American social scientist Kimball Young in 1927, the term ambivert is derived from the Latin word-forming element “ambi-” meaning “roundabout” and the Latin word “vertere” meaning “to turn.”
The idea of introversion and extroversion first came from famous psychiatrist Carl Jung in the early 1900s. Jung believed some people were energized by the internal world (introverts), and others were energized by the external world (extroverts). Today, these personality types are considered a spectrum, with ambiversion falling in the middle.
Words That are Related to Ambivert
To further your understanding of the term, it can be helpful to discover words that are related to ambivert. Learning like words will also help to expand your English vocabulary.
Words that are related to ambivert include:
- Melancholic
- Persona
- Psyche
- Identity
- Psychology
- Omnivert
- Behavior
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
- Fluid
How to Use the Word Ambivert in a Sentence
Now that you understand what ambivert means, let’s explore some examples of how it can be used in a sentence:
“If you have extroverted traits and introverted traits, you could be an ambivert.”
“I’m an ambivert which means I fall on the middle of the spectrum.”
“I don’t care about labels, but if I did, I would be an ambivert.”
“Suzie went to the University of Pennsylvania and became a professor of psychology so she could further her understanding of ambiversion.”
“Although we are ambiverts, some people call us social introverts.”
“Bob went to therapy and learned his personality type is ambivert.”
“Many of the salespeople here are extroverts, but I’m an ambivert.”
“As an ambivert, there are limits to my social comfort zone.”
“Did you know that ambiverts are more inclined to listen to customers’ interests than those with extroverted qualities?”
What Are the Personality Traits and Characteristics of an Ambivert?
Wondering if you’re an ambivert? While every ambivert is unique, there are common personality traits many of them share. If you can relate to most of these signs listed below, you might be an ambivert:
- You’re a good listener and communicator.
- You have a lot of friends and a handful of close friends.
- Empathy comes naturally to you.
- Small talk doesn’t bug you, though you also love deep conversations.
- You’re very reserved in some situations.
- You take alone time in small doses.
- You tend to “balance out” those around you.
- You may appear as a chameleon to others.
- Too much alone time and too much time with others can feel draining.
Like every temperament, ambiverts have their own set of strengths that are hard for others to match. A core ambivert personality trait is adaptability, which shines through in many of the ways ambiverts interact with the world.
A Final Word
So, what does ambivert mean?
In short, the term ambivert is used to describe personality traits that reside somewhere in the middle spectrum of extroverts and introverts. Coined by a researcher who saw that personalities are not quite so black and white, ambiverted people balance extroversion and introversion simultaneously.
Think you might be an ambivert? Take a personality assessment such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to find out — and if you’d like to discover new vocabulary, check out our website!
Sources:
