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

The Young Turks have a largely male audience, and as progressive as the channel's voices may imagine themselves to be, there's a pronounced tendency toward the view that women are implicated in men's problems.

From Salon

The review says "there was a distinct lack of curiosity shown by these senior figures and a tendency towards minimisation of the matter".

From BBC

Asia White defines herself as an “idea person” — someone with an expansive imagination and a tendency to get overexcited.

From Los Angeles Times

It was this tendency to become overly engaged in topics that he first identified as a possible autistic trait in himself.

From BBC

His research took him back as far as John Roy MacLeod, which in Gaelic is Iain Ruaidh, named for a tendency to red hair.

From BBC

Related Words

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