propensity

[ pruh-pen-si-tee ]

noun

, plural pro·pen·si·ties.

1. a natural inclination or tendency:

   a propensity to drink too much.

   Synonyms: proclivity, penchant, disposition, leaning, bent

2. Obsolete. favorable disposition or partiality.

propensity

/ prəˈpɛnsɪtɪ /

noun

1. a natural tendency or disposition
2. obsolete.
   partiality

Word History and Origins

Origin of propensity¹

First recorded in 1560–70; propense + -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of propensity¹

C16: from Latin prōpensus inclined to, from prōpendēre to propend

Example Sentences

Alpha-ketoacids drew their attention because of “their stability in water and their propensity to form carbon-carbon bonds, the skeleton of biology,” Springsteen said.

From Quanta Magazine

But, van Elk says, this propensity can cause us to sense the presence of another even when we’re alone.

From Popular-Science

Along the way, IBM says it expects to achieve exponentially improving “quantum volume,” an invented measure that factors in a processor’s propensity for operational errors.

From Fortune

Content that has the propensity to create specific harm will be removed, whereas tweets that mischaracterize or represent general harm will be labeled as such.

From Fortune

Yu and colleagues investigated whether elite controllers have a propensity for steering the virus to heterochromatin.

From Science News

He also has a propensity to use clanking words when he could have used simpler ones.

From The Daily Beast

McAndrews agreed that the androgenic hormone pill would be problematic for those with a genetic propensity for ADA.

From The Daily Beast

Instead there was the emergence of a Tea Party movement that brought many traditionally low-propensity voters to the polls.

From The Daily Beast

The focus is on “low-propensity voters who will not show up unless someone knocks on their door,” says Donnelly.

From The Daily Beast

The critters have the propensity to devour their babies if alarmed and so require a calm environment for breeding.

From The Daily Beast

Avoid a loquacious propensity; you should never occupy more than your share of the time, or more than is agreeable to others.

From Project Gutenberg

Then it was that the insular propensity grew impudent and headstrong, and soon became a power in the land.

From Project Gutenberg

It was only by persevering effort that I convinced him his church-going propensity could not be allowed.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a propensity which received frequent checks from those around her.

From Project Gutenberg

It is no new propensity of animal nature, to find pleasure from the combination of a stimulant, and a sedative.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bias
• disposition
• leaning
• penchant
• predilection
• predisposition
• proclivity
• susceptibility
• tendency