disposition

American  

[dis-puh-zish-uhn] / ˌdɪs pəˈzɪʃ ən /

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.

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disposition British  

/ 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

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Related Words

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 Word Forms

• dispositional adjective
• redisposition noun

Etymology

Origin of disposition

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

Explanation

Someone's disposition is their mood or general attitude about life. If your friend woke up on the wrong side of the bed, tell her that she might need a disposition makeover. Disposition means the positive or negative way a person views the world. In contrast, your character is determined by your inner moral values, and your personality reflects what you're like as an individual. An animal with an excellent disposition is friendly towards people. If you are cheerful, you're often said to have a sunny disposition. Disposition can also mean "getting rid of something," so cleaning your room might involve the disposition of empty pizza boxes and soda cans.

Example Sentences

Miller’s 1968 play, written during the agonizing days of the Vietnam War, concerns the disposition of the remains of a once-illustrious estate.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Shortly after, a disposition - or legal document - was produced which transferred ownership of the title to a Sexton family associate.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

“We expect manageable impact from settlement conditions relating to Ticketmaster and the supposed mandated disposition of at least 10 amphitheaters,” he wrote.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

Gainsborough grew up with Andrews, and the clouds that darken behind him seem to hint at his disposition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

But nobody wanted to speak on the true disposition of the world.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Related Words

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