proclivity

[proh-kliv-i-tee]

noun

plural

proclivities 

1. natural or habitual inclination or tendency; propensity; predisposition.

   a proclivity to meticulousness.

   Synonyms: disposition, leaning, bent
   Antonyms: aversion

proclivity

/ prəˈklɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. a tendency or inclination

Word History and Origins

Origin of proclivity¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of proclivity¹

C16: from Latin prōclīvitās, from prōclīvis steep, from _pro- ¹ + clīvus a slope

Example Sentences

On his 21st birthday, in 1932, he came into a sizable inheritance that allowed him to live where he wanted and indulge his maverick aesthetic proclivities.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It gets us on the topic of reboots — and my hesitation with Hollywood’s proclivity to try to recapture lightning in a bottle.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Unsurprisingly, both are making the most of this administration’s proclivity for positioning TV stars as voices of authority.

Read more on Salon

He signaled his elitist proclivities months ago when he sent prepaid phones to 100 heads of major corporations along with notes inviting them to use the speed-dial programming to reach him directly.

Read more on Salon

For all of Arden’s showman proclivities, his passion for innovative design and kinetic sceneography, he never loses sight of a work’s beating heart.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• penchant 
• predilection 
• predisposition 
• propensity