Ambivert

/ˈæmbɪvɝt/ noun

Definition

A person who has a personality type that combines both introverted and extroverted qualities, comfortable in social situations but also needing alone time.

Etymology

From Latin ambi- 'both' + -vert from vertere 'to turn' (from the model of introvert/extrovert). Coined in psychology in the 20th century to describe people in the middle of the personality spectrum.

Kelly Says

The ambivert concept was originally proposed by psychologist Kimmel in the 1940s, but it took decades for it to gain traction because the intro/extro model was so popular. It turns out roughly 60% of people are actually ambiverts, but we didn't have the word for them.

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