proclivity

noun

pro·​cliv·​i·​ty prō-ˈkli-və-tē 

plural proclivities

: an inclination or predisposition toward something

especially : a strong inherent inclination toward something objectionable

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Have you always had this leaning toward wanting to know about words and their etymologies? Maybe you even have a propensity to use the featured word several times in the course of the day—due, of course, not to a proclivity for pretentiousness, but because you simply have a penchant for using a rich vocabulary. And perhaps you have a predilection for using lots of synonyms, such as proclivity (from clivus, the Latin word for "slope"), referring to a tendency usually toward something bad; propensity, suggesting an often uncontrollable inclination; penchant, meaning an irresistible attraction; and predilection, which describes a strong liking derived from one's temperament.

Synonyms

• affection
• affinity
• aptitude
• bent
• bias
• bone
• devices
• disposition
• genius
• habitude
• impulse
• inclination
• leaning
• partiality
• penchant
• predilection
• predisposition
• propensity
• tendency
• turn

Choose the Right Synonym for proclivity

leaning, propensity, proclivity, penchant mean a strong instinct or liking for something.

leaning suggests a liking or attraction not strong enough to be decisive or uncontrollable.

a student with artistic leanings

propensity implies a deeply ingrained and usually irresistible inclination.

a propensity to offer advice

proclivity suggests a strong natural proneness usually to something objectionable or evil.

a proclivity for violence

penchant implies a strongly marked taste in the person or an irresistible attraction in the object.

a penchant for taking risks

Examples of proclivity in a Sentence

showed artistic proclivities at an early age

Recent Examples on the Web

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership faces two issues at Dulles: The airport’s cargo handling capabilities must grow, and the proclivity of Virgina companies to ship cargo at Dulles must grow with it. —Ted Reed, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Hindsight is unfailingly comforting in clarifying such market proclivities. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2025

The direction adopted by Santa Monica Studio ushered an absurd amount of games that prioritized violence and gritty proclivities. —Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2025

Tesla is having a rough go of it, thanks to Elon Musk’s far-right proclivities. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin proclivitas, from proclivis sloping, prone, from pro- forward + clivus slope — more at pro-, declivity

First Known Use

1561, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for proclivity

• acclivity
• activity
• captivity
• declivity
• festivity
• nativity
• passivity
• absorptivity
• affectivity
• collectivity
• conductivity
• connectivity

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Kids Definition

proclivity

noun

pro·​cliv·​i·​ty prō-ˈkliv-ət-ē 

plural proclivities

: a natural tendency of the mind or personality

showed artistic proclivities at an early age

especially : such a tendency toward something bad

a proclivity for violence