tendency

[ ten-duhn-see ]
See synonyms for: tendencytendencies on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural ten·den·cies.
  1. a natural or prevailing disposition to move, proceed, or act in some direction or toward some point, end, or result: the tendency of falling bodies toward the earth.

  2. an inclination, bent, or predisposition to something: a tendency to talk too much.

  1. a special and definite purpose in a novel or other literary work.

Origin of tendency

1
From the Medieval Latin word tendentia, dating back to 1620–30. See tend1, -ency

synonym study For tendency

1. Tendency, direction, trend, drift refer to inclination or line of action or movement. A tendency is an inclination toward a certain line of action (whether or not the action follows), and is often the result of inherent qualities, nature, or habit: a tendency to procrastinate. Direction is the line along which an object or course of action moves, often toward some set point or intended goal: The change is in the direction of improvement. Trend emphasizes simultaneous movement in a certain direction of a number of factors, although the course or goal may not be clear for any single feature: Business indicators showed a downward trend. Drift emphasizes gradual development as well as direction: the drift of his argument.

Other words for tendency

Other words from tendency

  • coun·ter·tend·en·cy, noun, plural coun·ter·tend·en·cies.

Words Nearby tendency

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tendency in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tendency

tendency

/ (ˈtɛndənsɪ) /


nounplural -cies
  1. (often foll by to) an inclination, predisposition, propensity, or leaning: she has a tendency to be frivolous; a tendency to frivolity

  2. the general course, purport, or drift of something, esp a written work

  1. a faction, esp one within a political party: the militant tendency

Origin of tendency

1
C17: from Medieval Latin tendentia, from Latin tendere to tend 1

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