proclivity
/prəˈklɪv.ə.ti/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A natural tendency to do something, often one that is hard to control. It is usually used in more formal writing or speech.
- He has a proclivity for spending too much.
- She showed a proclivity for detail.
Adinary Nuance
Proclivity is close to tendency, inclination, and penchant, but it sounds more formal. Tendency is the most neutral and common choice in everyday English. Inclination is softer and can suggest a mild preference, while proclivity often hints at a stronger habit or risk. Penchant usually means a liking, not necessarily a bad habit.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- khuynh hướng
- Spanish
- predisposición
- Chinese
- 倾向
- Japanese
- 傾向
- Korean
- 성향
Etymology
Proclivity comes from Latin proclivitas, meaning “a slope” or “a leaning.” It entered English in the 1600s and kept the idea of a person “leaning” toward something.
Common phrases
a proclivity forproclivity towardshow a proclivitynatural proclivity
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is proclivity formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal. People often use it in writing, reports, and academic English.
- What is the difference between proclivity and tendency?
- Tendency is more common and neutral. Proclivity sounds more formal and can suggest a stronger habit.
- Can I say a proclivity for something?
- Yes. This is a very common pattern, as in “a proclivity for risk.”
- Is proclivity used in business writing?
- Yes, but it sounds formal. In business English, tendency is often simpler and more natural.