propensity

noun

pro·​pen·​si·​ty prə-ˈpen(t)-sə-tē How to pronounce propensity (audio)
plural propensities
: an often intense natural inclination or preference

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You'll Like the Etymology of Propensity

When it comes to synonyms of propensity, the letter "p" predominates. Proclivity, preference, penchant, and predilection all share with propensity the essential meaning of "a strong instinct or liking." Not every word that is similar in meaning to propensity begins with "p," however. Propensity comes from Latin propensus, the past participle of propendēre, a verb meaning "to incline" or "to hang forward or down." Thus leaning and inclination are as good synonyms of propensity as any of those "p"-words.

Choose the Right Synonym for propensity

leaning, propensity, proclivity, penchant mean a strong instinct or liking for something.

leaning suggests a liking or attraction not strong enough to be decisive or uncontrollable.

a student with artistic leanings

propensity implies a deeply ingrained and usually irresistible inclination.

a propensity to offer advice

proclivity suggests a strong natural proneness usually to something objectionable or evil.

a proclivity for violence

penchant implies a strongly marked taste in the person or an irresistible attraction in the object.

a penchant for taking risks

Examples of propensity in a Sentence

Other researches are exploring how the adolescent propensity for uninhibited risk taking propels teens to experiment with drugs and alcohol. Claudia Wallis, Time, 10 May 2004
On the other hand, a jury might be convinced that a meth dealer who had brazenly fired a pistol through his door had a propensity for violence. John Cloud, Time, 14 July 2003
A central tenet of this camp's proponents is that a considerable number of biological dispositions evolved during the Stone Age, including a male propensity for making war. Bruce Bower, Science News, 27 Jan. 2001
He had a propensity for crime. the criminal propensities of the family extended over several generations
Recent Examples on the Web Winfrey likened the struggle some people have with obesity to those who have a propensity to alcoholism in terms of how bodies are predisposed to respond differently. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 Sometimes, kids have a very low propensity to trust others. TIME, 17 Mar. 2024 Low turnout would help Garvey, since Republicans appear to have a greater propensity to cast ballots in the primary. Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 In those markets, the general cost per gigabyte is certainly trending downwards and people have a propensity to stream live video content or go to on-demand video content in those markets. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2024 But Quinn, who called it a city of a series of gold rushes, noted that San Francisco has a propensity for risk. Alena Botros, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2024 African Americans have a higher rate, about 1 in 6, and some veterans also may have a higher propensity to develop the disease. Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2024 As a batter, Mauer had a propensity to take a pitcher’s first strike. Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 27 Jan. 2024 Unlike today’s gun advocates, who think of danger as other types of people, the founders understood tyranny as a universal propensity—a problem larger than monarchy or the more obvious villainies of history. TIME, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'propensity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin prōpensitāt-, prōpensitās, from Latin prōpensus "weighted down, inclined, having a disposition or tendency" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at propense

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of propensity was in 1570

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Dictionary Entries Near propensity

Cite this Entry

“Propensity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propensity. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

propensity

noun
pro·​pen·​si·​ty prə-ˈpen(t)-sət-ē How to pronounce propensity (audio)
plural propensities
: a natural inclination or liking : bent
a propensity for bright colors
a propensity to daydream

More from Merriam-Webster on propensity

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