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

“Now, fraud can be isolated bad actors, or it could be economic conditions that increase the propensity towards bad acting, if you like,” he said.

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In India, too, politicians’ children have a propensity to become fabulously wealthy.

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Qubits are sensitive to environmental noise or any disturbances at the atomic level, which is why quantum computers have a propensity for errors.

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And against Illinois, that propensity for allowing explosive plays came back to bite USC in a brutal loss.

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“It’s a little thing called state sovereignty, but given the President’s propensity to violate the Constitution, it’s unsurprising that he’s unfamiliar with it.”

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Related Words

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