proclivity
Americannoun
noun
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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Fahrenheit 451
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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.
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
He approves of credit, too, despite the human proclivity to alternately gorge and fast on loans and bonds and mortgages.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025
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
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.
