tendency

American  

[ten-duhn-see] / ˈtɛn dən si /

noun

plural

tendencies

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.

   Synonyms:

   leaning, proclivity

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

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tendency British  

/ ˈtɛndənsɪ /

noun

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

3. a faction, esp one within a political party

   the militant tendency

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Related Words

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 Word Forms

• countertendency
  noun

Etymology

Origin of tendency

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

Explanation

A tendency is an inclination to do something. For example, dogs have a tendency to bark at strangers and the mail man. We all have tendencies: things we're inclined to do, or like to do, or just can't help doing. Morning people have a tendency to get up early. Basketball players usually have a tendency to go right or left. Optimists have a tendency to look on the bright side of things; pessimists have the opposite tendency. Other things have tendencies too, like how the stock market tends to go up and down.

Example Sentences

Kimberly Harrington is the author of “But You Seemed So Happy” and “Amateur Hour” and a columnist and regular contributor to McSweeney’s Internet Tendency.

From Washington Post • Jan. 27, 2022

McSweeney’s, which he founded, is known for making beautiful print books and also for a humor website, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 4, 2021

He is also likely to face questions over reports that Derek Hatton - the face of the hard-left Militant Tendency group in the 1980s - had had his application to rejoin the party approved.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2019

Tendency to leak: No water bottle is completely leak- or spill-proof, so we looked for the ones that were the least likely to leak.

From Slate • Dec. 7, 2018

Innumeracy and the Tendency to Personalize One important such factor is the impersonality of mathematics.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

Related Words

• bias
• habit
• impulse
• leaning
• penchant
• propensity
• shift
• trend
• type
• weakness