tendency

[ ten-duhn-see ]

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.

   Synonyms: leaning, proclivity

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

tendency

/ 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

Other Words From

• counter·tenden·cy noun plural countertendencies

Word History and Origins

Origin of tendency¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tendency¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

They either have a tendency to hyperbolize and make life much more glamorous and titillating than it is, or the other way.

From The Daily Beast

But I do think if you look at history and you do believe that history has a tendency to do what?

From The Daily Beast

In New York, district attorneys have a tendency to grow moss-bound in their roles.

From The Daily Beast

Despite his tendency to speak frankly on political issues, he insists that neither he nor his group are politically active.

From The Daily Beast

The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast has a tendency to lose its guests in the middle of the night.

From The Daily Beast

Many British Ferns evidence a marked tendency to “sport,” and this is a fact which the beginner should always bear in mind.

From Project Gutenberg

There is still a general tendency in universities on both sides of the Atlantic to treat propaganda as infection.

From Project Gutenberg

"It's always the way with them," sighed Miss Grains, who suffered from a complication of romantic tendency and very tight stays.

From Project Gutenberg

With less intelligent children traces of this tendency to take pictorial representation for reality may appear as late as four.

From Project Gutenberg

This tendency to take art-representations for realities reappears even in the mental attitude of a child towards his stories.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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