hesitancy

[hez-i-tuh n-see]

See more synonyms for hesitancy on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural hes·i·tan·cies

hesitation; indecision or disinclination.

Also hes·i·tance.

Origin of hesitancy

From the Latin word haesitantia, dating back to 1610–20. See hesitant, -ancy

Related formspre·hes·i·tan·cy, noun, plural pre·hes·i·tan·cies.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for hesitancy

skepticism, reluctance, indecision, hesitation, procrastination, uncertainty, irresolution, pause, wavering, delaying

Examples from the Web for hesitancy

Contemporary Examples of hesitancy

I asked Ferris if there was a bias or a hesitancy to recruit Native American kids.
Native American Basketball Team in Wyoming Have Hoop Dreams Of Their Own
Robert Silverman
August 31, 2014
Rattner apologized for his hesitancy and “closed [his] eyes and jumped.”
Speed Read Steven Rattner's Tell-All
The Daily Beast
September 20, 2010
This was partly, it seems, due to his own desire to finish school and his hesitancy to move out to Palo Alto.
Accidental Billionaires
Samuel P. Jacobs
July 16, 2009

Historical Examples of hesitancy

Dick spoke at once, with a hesitancy that betrayed the depth of his emotion.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
They were doing the "hesitation" with the hesitancy emphasized.
Cap'n Dan's Daughter
Joseph C. Lincoln
Might he not yet turn to advantage this hesitancy of Crispin's to strike the final blow?
The Tavern Knight
Rafael Sabatini
For a moment, therefore, in his bearing bravado was tempered with hesitancy.
The Strollers
Frederic S. Isham
It is fair to say that the hesitancy of some was offset by the heroism of others.
The Siege of Boston
Allen French

Word Origin and History for hesitancy

1610s, from Latin haesitantia "action of stammering," from haesitantem (nominative haesitans) "stammering," present participle of haesitare (see hesitation).

hesitancy in Medicine

hesitancy

[hĕz′ĭ-tən-sē]

An involuntary delay or inability in starting the urinary stream.