1. A behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
   "His habit of humming while working was an endearing mannerism";
   - idiosyncrasy, foible
    
2. Behaviour, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress
   "His upper-class accent was pure mannerism, as he grew up in a working-class neighbourhood";
   - affectation, pose, affectedness

1. An art style in late 16th century Europe characterized by spatial incongruity and excessive elongation of the human figures
   "Mannerism favours compositional tension and instability rather than the balance and clarity of earlier Renaissance painting"

Derived forms: mannerisms

Type of: artistic style, distinctiveness, idiom, peculiarity, pretence [Brit, Cdn], pretending, pretense [N. Amer], simulation, speciality [Brit, Cdn], specialness, specialty [N. Amer]

Encyclopedia: Mannerism