disposition

[ dis-puh-zish-uhn ]
See synonyms for: dispositiondispositions on Thesaurus.com

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.

  2. state of mind regarding something; inclination: a disposition to gamble.

  1. physical inclination or tendency: the disposition of ice to melt when heated.

  2. arrangement or placing, as of troops or buildings: Strategists came to the conference with divergent views regarding the best disposition of Allied forces.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. regulation; management; dispensation: the disposition of God.

Origin of disposition

1
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- (see dispose) + -itus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

synonym study For disposition

1. 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.

Other words for disposition

Opposites for disposition

Other words from disposition

  • dis·po·si·tion·al, adjective
  • re·dis·po·si·tion, noun

Words Nearby disposition

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use disposition in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for disposition

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

  1. 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

  2. archaic manner of placing or arranging

Derived forms of disposition

  • dispositional, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012