Demeanour - Word Of The Day For IELTS Speaking And Writing

Enhancing your IELTS vocabulary with refined, descriptive nouns can significantly boost your Lexical Resource score, the marking criterion that evaluates word choice and range. Today’s word, “demeanour,” is an excellent high-level noun that helps you describe how a person behaves, carries themselves, or responds in situations. Being able to talk about personality, behaviour, and attitude in a sophisticated way is extremely useful for both IELTS Speaking and Writing, especially in topics involving people, leadership, communication, and character analysis.

Meaning of Demeanour

Noun: The way someone behaves, speaks, or presents themselves, which often reveals aspects of their personality, mood, or attitude.

Demeanour includes body language, tone of voice, facial expressions, posture, and general presence. It is highly effective in IELTS because the word allows you to describe people in a precise, elegant, and formal manner, something examiners appreciate.

For example, instead of saying:

• “Her behaviour was calm,”
• You can elevate your expression by saying:
• “Her demeanour was calm and composed.”

Origin and History of the Word

The word demeanour originates from the Old French term demener, meaning “to conduct oneself.” Over centuries, the meaning evolved into a formal description of outward behaviour and self-presentation. In modern English especially British English, the word is often used in professional, academic, or formal contexts such as interviews, evaluations, literature, and psychological descriptions.

This historical evolution makes demeanour particularly fitting for IELTS Writing Task 2 essays and Speaking Part 2/3 responses where you need to discuss a person’s reaction, leadership style, or general behaviour.

How to Use “Demeanour” in IELTS Speaking & Writing

“Demeanour” is ideal for various IELTS topics, including:

1. IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Describing a Person

You may be asked to talk about:

• A teacher you admire
• A friend who helped you
• A leader or celebrity
• Someone who inspired you

Using “demeanour” helps you describe how that person appears or behaves in a nuanced manner.

2. IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Behaviour, Personality, Leadership

Questions often ask:

• What qualities make a person respected?
• Why do some people stay calm under pressure?
• Do people behave differently in public and private?

“Demeanour” provides a sophisticated way to express complex ideas.

3. IELTS Writing Task 2 – Society, Behaviour, Education

Useful for essays discussing:

• Leadership and management
• Public behaviour
• Classroom discipline
• Cultural attitudes
• Professional conduct

4. IELTS General Training – Formal Letters

You can describe someone’s professional demeanour when writing to:

• A manager
• A training centre
• A school authority

Using “demeanour” demonstrates strong lexical variety, a key feature of band 8 and 9 responses.

Examples of “Demeanour” in Context

IELTS Speaking:

• “Her calm demeanour during stressful situations motivates others to stay composed.”
• “I admire my supervisor’s friendly demeanour, which makes the workplace feel welcoming.”
• “His confident demeanour gave the impression that he was well-prepared and capable.”

IELTS Writing:

• “Leaders with a respectful demeanour often inspire greater trust within communities.”
• “Teachers who maintain a firm yet approachable demeanour tend to build stronger relationships with students.”
• “His demeanour was consistently polite and self-effacing, contributing to his professional success.”

IELTS Tip

Use demeanour as a high-level substitute for simple words like:

• behaviour
• attitude
• manner
• conduct

This immediately elevates the quality of your answer.

• Instead of: “She behaved confidently.”
• Use: “Her confident demeanour impressed the audience.”

Synonyms for “Demeanour”

• Behaviour
• Conduct
• Manner
• Presence
• Attitude
• Bearing

These can also be used interchangeably in IELTS, depending on context.

Sample IELTS Speaking Answer Using “Demeanour”

Question: Describe a person you admire.

Answer:
“One person I truly admire is my former English teacher. She had a remarkably calm demeanour, even when students were stressed or disruptive. Her composed presence made the classroom environment comfortable and motivated us to participate more actively. I believe her demeanour played a significant role in shaping my interest in language learning.”

Sample IELTS Writing Sentence Using “Demeanour”

“Employees tend to respond more positively to leaders whose demeanour is approachable and respectful, as it fosters trust and open communication.”

Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct word: demeanour, brazen, proud, shameful, textures, embarrassed

1. It’s __________ the way some people treat their pets.
2. At first, I was scared, but as I went on, I became more __________.
3. A designer who experiments with different colours and __________.
4. The company is justly __________ of its achievements.
5. Michelle was acutely __________ at having to ask for money.
6. I must admit I was impressed by Robert’s __________.

Answer Key

1. shameful
2. brazen
3. textures
4. proud
5. embarrassed
6. demeanour

Using high-level vocabulary like demeanour can boost your IELTS Speaking and Writing scores. By learning its meaning, collocations, and examples, and practising them in context, you can describe behaviour and character more precisely, demonstrating a sophisticated command of English. 

Also Check: 

• 21+ Tips On How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Band Score
• 10 Useful IELTS Speaking Tips to Impress the Examiner
• Useful Idioms for IELTS Speaking to Score Band 8.0+
• Linking words for IELTS Speaking Section
• IELTS Pronunciation Guide 2025
• 75+ Common English Words Used in IELTS Speaking Test