propensity

[pruh-pen-si-tee]

noun

plural

propensities 

1. a natural inclination or tendency.

   a propensity to drink too much.

   Synonyms: proclivity, penchant, disposition, leaning, bent

2. Obsolete.,  favorable disposition or partiality.

propensity

/ prəˈpɛnsɪtɪ /

noun

1. a natural tendency or disposition

2. obsolete,  partiality

Word History and Origins

Origin of propensity¹

First recorded in 1560–70; propense + -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of propensity¹

C16: from Latin prōpensus inclined to, from prōpendēre to _propend

Example Sentences

Today, the diagnosis includes children whose autism was previously overlooked because of their propensity for “masking,” the act of consciously or unconsciously suppressing autistic traits in order to blend in.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For children with a propensity for masking, autism is often diagnosed much later in childhood or even adulthood.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The paper is titled "A combined genomic arrhythmia propensity score delineates cumulative risk."

Read more on Science Daily

The way consumers feel about the economy often augurs their propensity to spend.

Read more on Barron's

It’s an HFO, not an HFC, and has a lower propensity to heat up the planet when released into the atmosphere.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• bias 
• disposition 
• leaning 
• penchant 
• predilection 
• predisposition 
• proclivity 
• susceptibility 
• tendency