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• prone
  prone

  adjective

  having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable.
• -prone
  -prone

  combining form

  liable or disposed to suffer

prone

¹ American  

[prohn] / proʊn /

adjective

1. having a natural inclination or tendency to something; disposed; liable.

   to be prone to anger.

   Synonyms:

   subject, apt

2. having the front or ventral part downward; lying face downward.

3. lying flat; prostrate.

   Synonyms:

   recumbent

4. having a downward direction or slope.

5. having the palm downward, as the hand.

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prone ² American  

[prohn] / proʊn /

noun

1. a sermon or a brief hortatory introduction to a sermon, usually delivered at a service at which the Eucharist is celebrated.

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prone ¹ British  

/ prəʊn /

adjective

1. lying flat or face downwards; prostrate

2. sloping or tending downwards

3. having an inclination to do something

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-prone ² British  

combining form

1. liable or disposed to suffer

   accident-prone

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Other Word Forms

• pronely adverb
• proneness noun

Etymology

Origin of prone¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin prōnus “turned or leaning forward, inclined downward, disposed,” adverb based on prō pro ¹ ( def. )

Origin of prone²

First recorded in 1660–70; from French prône “grill, grating (separating chancel from nave),” so called because notices and addresses were delivered there, from Old French prodne, prorne, prosne, by way of a Medieval Latin or Late Latin intermediary such as protinum (unrecorded) from Latin prothyrum “foyer, porch, vestibule,” from Greek próthyron, from pró pro- ² ( def. ) + thýra “door” ( see also door ( def. ))

Explanation

If you're prone to doing something, it means you're likely to do it, have a habit of doing it, or are susceptible to it. People who are prone to getting the flu every winter should probably get a flu shot in the fall. The second meaning of prone is "lying face down," and the Latin root is pronare, "to bend forward." This is a handy way to remember both meanings: if you tend to wait to start your term paper until the night before it's due, you are prone to procrastination — you bend toward it. If you stay up so late you fall asleep face down in the book, you are now prone at your desk.

Example Sentences

Prediction markets are so prone to abuse that the alleged behavior in this case feels much more like a feature than a bug.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026

These systems are — as has been extensively and embarrassingly documented — prone to generating fabricated citations, misreading evidentiary context and issuing confident-sounding verdicts about matters they fundamentally do not understand.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

While co-founder Steve Jobs was legendary for being brilliant, but also difficult to work with and prone to tantrums, it's hard to imagine either Tim Cook or John Ternus really kicking off.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

These glaciers tend to be large, close to people, and prone to repeated surging.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

Before the maitre d’ could speak he noticed the prone body of Colonel Mullinax lying on the long dining table in the center of the room.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• apt
• devoted
• exposed
• inclined
• ready
• sensitive
• susceptible
• willing