inclination

American  

[in-kluh-nay-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

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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

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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

“I could make arguments that a lot of people my age don’t have either the inclination or the capacity to vote. I’m 77,” Woklowitz said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

If you lack the expertise, time or inclination to market the property, handle repairs and maintenance, and field tenant calls, you can hire help.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

In the 1930s and ’40s, Justice Alito explains, the Supreme Court mostly resisted any inclination to strike down Congressional legislation, which had mostly to do with New Deal economic policies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

But it’s the inclination to bang the gavel and move on that irks me.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

Frank Churchill’s little inclination to exclude himself increased so much, that his last words to Emma were,

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

"Larijani is a true insider, a canny operator, familiar with how the system operates and familiar with the supreme leader's inclinations."

From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026

A lot is riding on the economic-policy inclinations of the victors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 31, 2025

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

From Slate ● Dec. 2, 2025

And I think that activists should go where their inclinations and their talents lead them.

From Salon ● May 27, 2025

“Good. Now, your inclinations are to be consulted. I don’t think that wise, mind, but it’s my trust. Have you ever heard of any tutor whom you would prefer to another?”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

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Related Words

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

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