temperamental

[ tem-per-uh-men-tl, -pruh-men-, -per-men- ]
/ ˌtɛm pər əˈmɛn tl, -prəˈmɛn-, -pərˈmɛn- /

adjective

having or exhibiting a strongly marked, individual temperament.
moody, irritable, or sensitive: a temperamental artist.
given to erratic behavior; unpredictable.
of or relating to temperament; constitutional: temperamental differences.

Origin of temperamental

First recorded in 1640–50; temperament + -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM temperamental

Example sentences from the Web for temperamental

British Dictionary definitions for temperamental

temperamental
/ (ˌtɛmpərəˈmɛntəl, -prəˈmɛntəl) /

adjective

easily upset or irritated; excitable; volatile
of, relating to, or caused by temperament
informal working erratically and inconsistently; unreliable a temperamental sewing machine

Derived forms of temperamental

temperamentally, adverb