disposition

[dis-puh-zish-uhn]

noun

1. the predominant or prevailing tendency of one's spirits; natural mental and emotional outlook or mood; characteristic attitude.

   I'd like to thank the general manager for his hospitality, kindness, and always cheerful disposition.

   Synonyms: humor, temperament, makeup, nature

2. state of mind regarding something; inclination.

   a disposition to gamble.

   Synonyms: proclivity, predisposition, tendency, bent

3. physical inclination or tendency.

   the disposition of ice to melt when heated.

4. arrangement or placing, as of troops or buildings.

   Strategists came to the conference with divergent views regarding the best disposition of Allied forces.

   Synonyms: placement, arrangement, grouping, order

5. final settlement of a matter, especially of a legal matter.

   The accused was detained for seven months while awaiting disposition of his case.

   In the event that we receive a formal complaint, we reserve the right to suspend service pending final disposition of the matter.

   Synonyms: result, outcome

6. bestowal or transfer of care or ownership, as by a gift, sale, or bequest.

   The patient expressed her intentions regarding the disposition of certain pieces of her property upon her death, including the farm scene painting.

7. the disposal or discarding of something, or the power to make decisions about use or disposal.

   The final decision on the disposition of the deceased's body or remains belongs with the family.

   Synonyms: administration

8. regulation; management; dispensation.

   the disposition of God.

disposition

/ ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. a person's usual temperament or frame of mind

2. a natural or acquired tendency, inclination, or habit in a person or thing

3. another word for disposal disposal disposal disposal

4. philosophy logic a property that consists not in the present state of an object, but in its propensity to change in a certain way under certain conditions, as brittleness which consists in the propensity to break when struck Compare occurrent

5. archaic,  manner of placing or arranging

Other Word Forms

• dispositional adjective
• redisposition noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disposition¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English disposicioun, from Anglo-French or directly from Latin dispositiōn- (stem of dispositiō ), equivalent to disposit(us) (past participle of dispōnere “to distribute”; dispos- ( dispose ) + -itus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Synonym Study

Disposition, temper, temperament refer to the aspects and habits of mind and emotion that one displays over a length of time. Disposition is the natural or prevailing aspect of one's mind as shown in behavior and in relationships with others: a happy disposition; a selfish disposition. Temper sometimes denotes the essential quality of one's nature: a glacial temper; usually it has to do with propensity toward anger: an even temper; a quick or hot temper. Temperament refers to the particular balance of emotions determining a person's character: an artistic temperament.

Example Sentences

Hassona’s face becomes so familiar to us, we can tell when her cheery disposition is hard to maintain.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I met him several times, notably on the set of Mr. Cameron’s “Avatar,” which would be irrelevant here if Landau hadn’t brought his own disposition into the conversation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Unlike Marxism or reform liberalism, it has no systematic ideological program; rather, it is a set of dispositions and attitudes.

Read more on Salon

Although she has a sunny disposition, the past can come roaring back.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Black celebrities’ disposition, at best, gives us this: We care about what’s happening, but don’t count on any particular direct activism from us.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• frame of mind 
• habit 
• inclination 
• mood 
• personality 
• predisposition 
• propensity 
• temper 
• tendency 
• tone