penchant

[ pen-chuh nt; French pahn-shahn ]

/ ˈpɛn tʃənt; French pɑ̃ˈʃɑ̃ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR penchant ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something: a penchant for outdoor sports.

Nearby words

penang, penannular, penates, pence, pencel, penchant, penchi, penché, pencil, pencil beam, pencil box

Origin of penchant

1665–75; < French, noun use of present participle of pencher to incline, lean < Vulgar Latin *pendicāre, derivative of Latin pendēre to hang

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for penchant

This penchant for medical internationalism goes back to the greatest icon of the revolution, Ernesto “Che” Guevara.
The Dark Side of Cuba’s Ebola Economy|James Bloodworth|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The CIA has a penchant for such hilarious and sometimes depraved schemes.
Bid on CIA’s Osama Action Figure, Lewinsky's Lingerie, and More at This L.A. Auction House|Asawin Suebsaeng|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Reality-show deal aside, Weeks has a penchant for talking about her poverty.
Duke Porn Star Belle Knox Is Building Her Brand One Strip Club at a Time|Emily Shire|May 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Let this be a warning for rich men who have a penchant for younger women—they can be quite jealous.
Alleged Murderer Shot Her Millionaire Ex and Escaped in Gold Hummer|Barbie Latza Nadeau|April 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Unlike his falsetto and his "cool dad" penchant for fedoras, this rumored affair is just so not cute.
Marry, Screw, Kill: Lindsay Lohan Sex List Scandal Edition|Amy Zimmerman|March 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wordsworth, until he began the Ecclesiastical Sonnets, was betrayed by his "penchant for paradox."
The London Mercury, Vol. I, Nos. 1-6, November 1919 to April 1920|Various
And its penchant for Renaissance canons only emphasizes the absolute commonplace of many of these.
French Art|W. C. Brownell
She had no penchant for evasiveness, and coquetry was apart from her; she spoke words that her heart brimmed to her lips.
The Eddy|Clarence L. Cullen
Of refined tastes, including a penchant for blue china, being a thriving bachelor, he was able to gratify them.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
He has men under him fitted for desperate enterprises; and he has always had a penchant for desperate work.
A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital|John Beauchamp Jones

British Dictionary definitions for penchant

penchant

/ (ˈpɒŋʃɒŋ) /

noun

a strong inclination or liking; bent or taste

Word Origin for penchant

C17: from French, from pencher to incline, from Latin pendēre to be suspended

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for penchant

penchant

1670s, from French penchant, noun use of present participle of Old French pencher "to incline," from Vulgar Latin *pendicare, a frequentative formed from Latin pendere "to hang" (see pendant (n.)).

Idioms and Phrases with penchant

penchant

see have a penchant for.

penchant

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of penchant

Examples from the Web for penchant

British Dictionary definitions for penchant

penchant

noun

Word Origin for penchant

Word Origin and History for penchant

penchant

Idioms and Phrases with penchant

penchant