inclination

American  

[in-kluh-ney-shuhn] / ˌɪn kləˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

• inclinations
  plural

1. a disposition or bent, especially of the mind or will; a liking or preference.

   Much against his inclination, he was forced to resign.

   Synonyms:

   penchant, predisposition, predilection, proclivity, propensity, tendency, leaning

   Antonyms:

   dislike

2. something to which one is inclined.

   In sports his inclination is tennis.

3. the act of inclining; state of being inclined.

4. a tendency toward a certain condition, action, etc..

   the door's inclination to stick.

5. deviation or amount of deviation from a normal, especially horizontal or vertical, direction or position.

   Synonyms:

   pitch, grade, fall, rise, slant, slope

6. an inclined surface.

   Synonyms:

   ramp, pitch, grade, fall, rise, slant, slope

7. Geometry.

   1. the angle between two lines or two planes.

   2. the angle formed by the x-axis and a given line.

8. Astronomy.

   1. the angle between the orbital plane of a planet and another given plane, usually the ecliptic.

   2. the angle between the equatorial and orbital planes of a planet.

9. Magnetism. dip.

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inclination British  

/ ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. a particular disposition, esp a liking or preference; tendency

   I've no inclination for such dull work

2. the degree of deviation from a particular plane, esp a horizontal or vertical plane

3. a sloping or slanting surface; incline

4. the act of inclining or the state of being inclined

5. the act of bowing or nodding the head

6. maths

   1. the angle between a line on a graph and the positive limb of the x- axis

   2. the smaller dihedral angle between one plane and another

7. astronomy the angle between the plane of the orbit of a planet or comet and another plane, usually that of the ecliptic

8. physics another name for dip

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inclination Scientific  

/ ĭn′klə-nā′shən /

1. A deviation or the degree of deviation from the horizontal or vertical.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noninclination
  noun
• overinclination
  noun
• superinclination
  noun
• inclinational
  adjective
• noninclinational
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• inclinations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of inclination

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English inclinacioun, from Latin inclīnātiōn-, stem of inclīnātiō, from inclīnāt(us) “caused to bend” (past participle of inclīnāre “to cause to bend”; see incline) + -iō -ion

Explanation

You can see the word "incline" inside inclination, which clues you in to the fact that inclination has to do with leaning. Sometimes the inclination is literal; in most cases it's about what you incline toward in a figurative sense. An inclination is something you are leaning toward, a tendency you have. You could have a specific inclination for chocolate, or you could have an inclination that applies to a decision you are about to make: "Looking at this dessert menu, my inclination is to skip everything and just go home and have a chocolate bar."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inclination inclinations

Your inclination toward dreaming, and how easily you are consumed by it, is your heart’s way of creating not just a gorgeous life for yourself, but a more rose-tinted world for everyone.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

By all reports, he certainly reinforced the president’s inclination to join Israel in attacking Iran this past February.

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

His perceived inclination to stem market panic earned a moniker, the “Greenspan put”—as if the Fed itself was a put option that insured investors against losses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

Shadows of Spielberg’s filmography loom large over “Disclosure Day”: the inclination to revisit and fictionalize childhood from “The Fabelmans,” the tests of empathy in “A.I. Artificial Intelligence,” and, of course, all the aliens.

From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026

With a slight inclination of her head she passed out of the dining car.

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie

Kallman’s unexpected involvement disconcerted Stravinsky, who feared Auden’s sexual inclinations were clouding his literary judgment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

And the postmeeting press conference could be especially revealing of Warsh’s policy and style inclinations.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

If being an American of approximately liberal inclinations in the 21st century seems to require constant public apologies, some disgruntled Yanks actually are exploring their escape options.

From Salon ● May 31, 2026

The parents at home didn’t share their children’s political inclinations.

From Slate ● Dec. 2, 2025

She knows full well what it’s like to tamp down your natural inclinations, to force a smile when you feel numb.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

Related Words

• affection
• appetite
• aptitude
• bias
• capability
• desire
• disposition
• impulse
• leaning
• penchant
• predilection
• predisposition
• preference
• prejudice
• proclivity
• propensity
• temperament