phlegmatic

Phlegmatic is an adjective used to describe a temperament characterized by calmness and reliability. The term traces to the ancient Greek phlegmatikos and the Latin phlegmaticus, linked to the phlegm humor in humoral theory. In that system, the body’s fluids were thought to influence personality, with phlegm associated with a cool, moist, and sluggish constitution that produced a steady, unemotional demeanor.

A phlegmatic person is typically even-tempered, patient, and persistent, preferring routine and steady progress to excitement or risk. They are often described as thoughtful, loyal, and diplomatic, slow to anger and slow to react. They may be perceived as calm and dependable, but also as passive, indecisive, or emotionally unresponsive in some contexts.

In modern psychology, phlegmatic is mainly a historical or informal descriptor rather than a formal diagnosis. It is used in discussions of ancient temperament theory or as a shorthand for low emotional reactivity within some trait frameworks. The term appears in literature and popular psychology to contrast with more expressive temperaments such as choleric or sanguine. While the concept reflects a enduring stereotype of a reserved, steady personality, contemporary explanations tend to rely on trait theories that quantify dimensions like extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness rather than four humors.