charisma

UK: /kəˈrɪzmə/ US: /kəˈrɪzmə/ ,(kə riz′mə)

Inflections of 'charisma' (n): npl: charismata

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cha•ris•ma /kəˈrɪzmə/   n. [uncountable]

1. a quality of an individual to attract people, lead them, etc.;
   personal magnetism:
   a leader with great charisma.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cha•ris•ma  (kə riz′mə), n., pl. -ma•ta 

(-mə tə). 
1. Religion [Theol.] a divinely conferred gift or power.
2. a spiritual power or personal quality that gives an individual influence or authority over large numbers of people.
3. the special virtue of an office, function, position, etc., that confers or is thought to confer on the person holding it an unusual ability for leadership, worthiness of veneration, or the like.

Also, char•ism  (kar′iz əm). 

• Greek, equivalent. to char- (base of cháris favor, charízesthai to favor; akin to yearn, exhort) + -isma -ism
• Late Latin
• 1635–45

Synonyms

• 2. charm, magnetism, presence.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

charisma / kəˈrɪzmə/, charism / ˈkærɪzəm/ noun

1. a special personal quality or power of an individual making him or her capable of influencing or inspiring large numbers of people
2. a quality inherent in a thing which inspires great enthusiasm and devotion
3. a divinely bestowed power or talent

Etymology: 17th Century: from Church Latin, from Greek kharisma, from kharis grace, favour

charismatic / ˌkærɪzˈmætɪk/ adjective