propensity
noun
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You'll Like the Etymology of Propensity
When it comes to synonyms of propensity, the letter "p" predominates. Proclivity, preference, penchant, and predilection all share with propensity the essential meaning of "a strong instinct or liking." Not every word that is similar in meaning to propensity begins with "p," however. Propensity comes from Latin propensus, the past participle of propendēre, a verb meaning "to incline" or "to hang forward or down." Thus leaning and inclination are as good synonyms of propensity as any of those "p"-words.
Examples of propensity in a Sentence
Claudia Wallis, Time, 10 May 2004
On the other hand, a jury might be convinced that a meth dealer who had brazenly fired a pistol through his door had a propensity for violence.
—John Cloud, Time, 14 July 2003
A central tenet of this camp's proponents is that a considerable number of biological dispositions evolved during the Stone Age, including a male propensity for making war.
—Bruce Bower, Science News, 27 Jan. 2001
He had a propensity for crime.
the criminal propensities of the family extended over several generations
Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
Yet no one had ever looked to see if Xist itself might underlie the greater propensity of women to develop autoimmune diseases.
—Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for propensity 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'propensity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near propensity
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“Propensity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propensity. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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propensity
noun
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