proclivity
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of proclivity
1585–95; < Latin prōclīvitās tendency, literally, a steep descent, steepness, equivalent to prōclīv ( is ) sloping forward, steep ( prō- pro- 1 + clīv ( us ) slope + -is adj. suffix) + -itās -ity
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How does proclivity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A proclivity is a natural tendency to like something, such as your sister's proclivity for restaurants that serve hot, spicy food. When you have a proclivity, it feels automatic — you like what you like; you don't even have to think about it. The origin of the word proclivity supports this feeling. Proclivity comes from the Latin word proclivis, which literally means "sloping forward." You slide toward a proclivity — no effort is needed. You just give in to it, since you're headed in that direction naturally.
Vocabulary lists containing proclivity
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In her 2019 memoir, “Where the Light Enters,” Jill contrasts Joe’s capacity for forgiveness with her proclivity toward grudges, how she recalls “every slight committed against the people I love.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
Investors don’t currently have large positions in them, so they have wiggle room in their portfolios to take a chance on a few more shares—and they have recently shown the proclivity to do that.
From Barron's ● May 13, 2026
Verma notes that there has been an increasing proclivity to reduce subsidies, which may not necessarily be a good idea in a price-sensitive country like India.
From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026
The most notable stock-market research over the weekend comes from academia, where researchers studied those rascals in Congress and their proclivity to trade.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 1, 2025
For once not wearing his red carnation, the mayor was asked to describe Fuller and replied, “He has a proclivity for vexation.”
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Americans have been resistant to changing their protein-consuming proclivities in the face of higher prices, but that’s slowly changing, said Earnest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
It prompts us, as we bob about, to reflect on our own proclivities and preconceptions, our patterns of reception and perception.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026
They added that respect for existing precedent “contributes to the actual and perceived integrity of the judicial process” by ensuring that decisions are “founded in the law rather than in the proclivities of individuals.”
From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2025
It added that allegations the company had knowingly employed "individuals with proclivities or histories towards illegal... conduct" were "similarly without basis".
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2024
He hadn’t asked Rishi to give up comics from a sense of arrogance or pride or feeling ashamed of his oldest son’s artistic proclivities.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
