temperament

Temperament refers to someone's natural behavior or personality, like being calm and patient. It can also describe an animal's disposition, such as a friendly dog.

When people talk about someone's temperament, they usually mean how they react to things on their own, without thinking too much. For example, "My sister has a sweet temperament" probably means that she's a kind and gentle person who is easy to be around. If someone says, "This cat has a fiery temperament," it might imply that the cat gets angry or scared easily.

Note that in some contexts, temperament can also refer to the ability of something (like a car or an engine) to withstand certain conditions without breaking down. In this case, it means being strong and resilient rather than referring to human behavior.