propensity

American  

[pruh-pen-si-tee] / prəˈpɛn sɪ ti /

noun

plural

propensities

1. a natural inclination or tendency.

   a propensity to drink too much.

   Synonyms:

   proclivity, penchant, disposition, leaning, bent

2. Obsolete. favorable disposition or partiality.

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propensity British  

/ prəˈpɛnsɪtɪ /

noun

1. a natural tendency or disposition

2. obsolete partiality

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Etymology

Origin of propensity

First recorded in 1560–70; propense + -ity

Compare meaning

How does propensity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• proclivity vs. propensity

Example Sentences

I’m still the same person with the same propensities.

From The Wall Street Journal

“When you look at the baby boomer demographic, it is about to enter the 80s. When you are 80 and above, your propensity to require these services goes up dramatically,” he said.

From MarketWatch

“We may have come to a bit of a turning point with less of a propensity for speculators to sell the yen,” he says.

From Barron's

“We may have come to a bit of a turning point with less of a propensity for speculators to sell the yen,” he says.

From Barron's

At the core, 4o’s popularity and its potential for harm appear to stem from the same quality: its humanlike propensity to build emotional connections with users, often by mirroring and encouraging them.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bias
• disposition
• leaning
• penchant
• predilection
• predisposition
• proclivity
• susceptibility
• tendency