noun
propensity
pruh-PEHN-sih-tee
noun
1
A natural tendency or inclination to behave or think in a particular way.
"He has a propensity for exaggeration when telling stories."
"The dog showed a propensity for chewing shoes as a puppy."
How to Use Propensity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA built-in tendency to do or lean toward something, often used for habits or personality traits.
When to use it
Fairly formal — "tendency" or "knack" work better in everyday speech.
Common pairings
a propensity for violence
a propensity to lie
natural propensity
Word Forms
propensities plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “propensity”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He has a _____ for exaggeration when telling stories.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from New Latin propensitas, built from propense ("inclined, disposed") plus -ity.