Meaning & Definition of word "Propensity"

Propensity

/prəˈpɛn.sɪ.ti/

noun:

  • 1. A natural inclination or tendency to behave in a particular way.
    • Example: She has a propensity for taking risks in her investment strategies.
  • 2. An established pattern of behavior or tendency.
    • Example: His propensity to procrastinate often led to missed deadlines.
  • 3. A predisposition or inherent inclination towards something.
    • Example: The child's propensity for music became evident at a very young age.
  • 4. A strong natural tendency to do something.
    • Example: There's a propensity among teenagers to experiment with different identities.
  • 5. An inclination to favor a particular outcome or behavior.
    • Example: The professor noticed a propensity for students to gravitate towards group work.

Etymology

Late Middle English: from Latin 'propensitas', from 'propendere' meaning 'to incline or lean towards'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

propensity to procrastinate:

The tendency to delay or postpone tasks.

propensity for risk-taking:

An inclination to engage in risky behavior.

propensity for leadership:

A natural ability or inclination to lead others.

Related Words

tendency:

An inclination towards a particular characteristic or type of behavior.

predilection:

A preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something.

disposition:

A person's inherent qualities of mind and character.

Slang Meanings of propensity

Meaning: Propensity for partying

Example Sentence: His propensity for partying got him into a lot of trouble with his grades.

Meaning: Propensity to binge-watch

Example Sentence: She has a propensity to binge-watch shows on the weekend.