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• apt
  apt

  adjective

  inclined; disposed; given; prone.
• apt.
  apt.

  abbreviation

  apartment.

apt

¹ American  

[apt] / æpt /

adjective

1. inclined; disposed; given; prone.

   too apt to slander others.

   Synonyms:

   liable

2. likely.

   Am I apt to find him at home?

3. unusually intelligent; able to learn quickly and easily.

   an apt pupil.

   Synonyms:

   skillful, dexterous, adroit, handy, adaptable, bright, clever

4. suited to the purpose or occasion; appropriate.

   an apt metaphor; a few apt remarks on world peace.

   Synonyms:

   felicitous, germane, meet, fitting

5. Archaic. prepared; ready; willing.

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apt. ² American  

abbreviation

apts plural

1. apartment.

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apt ¹ British  

/ æpt /

adjective

1. suitable for the circumstance or purpose; appropriate

2. (postpositive; foll by an infinitive) having a tendency (to behave as specified)

3. having the ability to learn and understand easily; clever (esp in the phrase an apt pupil )

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apt. ² British  

abbreviation

1. apartment

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Usage

Some usage guides insist that apt followed by an infinitive can or should be used to mean only “inclined, disposed”: He is apt to ignore matters he regards as unimportant. In fact, apt is standard in all varieties of speech and writing as a synonym for likely in contexts that suggest probability without any implication of a natural disposition toward: Hostilities are apt to break out if the confrontation is not soon resolved. She is apt to arrive almost any time now. See also liable, likely.

Synonym Usage

Apt, pertinent, relevant all refer to something suitable or fitting. Apt means to the point and particularly appropriate: an apt comment. Pertinent means pertaining to the matter in hand: a pertinent remark. Relevant means directly related to and important to the subject: a relevant opinion.

Other Word Forms

• aptness
  noun
• overaptness
  noun
• overapt
  adjective
• aptly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of apt¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin aptus “fastened, fitted, fitting, appropriate,” equivalent to ap(ere) “fasten, attach” + -tus past participle suffix

Origin of apt.²

First recorded in 1900–05

Explanation

Something apt is perfectly appropriate, clever and well-suited to the matter at hand. If your room is small and dark, “cave-like” would be an apt description. The wee cousin of aptitude, apt has the same root meaning of "strength and ideal appropriateness." An apt description or nickname is one that’s just right. Apt can also be used in the form "to be apt to" meaning "to be likely to" do something. You’re apt to use this word more now that you know precisely what it means!

Example Sentences

One of the signatories on the documents was a professional polo player - apt given that Dame Jilly was known for writing about polo-playing members of the aristocracy.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026

It would be hard to find a more apt musician to extend this legacy than Mr. Sorey.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026

That idea does feel apt: It is surprising how little technology exists to facilitate communication between humans and dogs, considering how intimately the two species have coevolved.

From Slate • Jun. 20, 2026

That inversion of a Nixon-era statement seems especially apt for the meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee this coming week, which will be the first for Kevin Warsh as chairman of the Federal Reserve.

From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026

In all these cases, the reader is apt to think, “Who ever thought it was?”

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• appropriate
• apropos
• correct
• felicitous
• fitting
• happy
• relevant
• suitable