tendency

noun

ten·​den·​cy ˈten-dən(t)-sē 

plural tendencies

1

a

: a proneness to a particular kind of thought or action

b

: direction or approach toward a place, object, effect, or limit

2

a

: the purposeful trend of something written or said : aim

b

: deliberate but indirect advocacy

Synonyms

• aptness
• proneness
• propensity
• way

Choose the Right Synonym for tendency

tendency, trend, drift, tenor, current mean movement in a particular direction.

tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces

the drift of the population away from large cities

or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

got the drift of her argument

tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

Examples of tendency in a Sentence

The economy has shown a general tendency toward inflation.

a tendency to drop things

Recent Examples on the Web

Williams sees a tendency for people outside of an experience to tell people what is and is not victimization. —Jason Derose, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024

After one month of use, our parent tester has found the crib to be sturdy, even despite her son’s tendency to pretend the side rails are monkey bars. —Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 19 Apr. 2024

Scorpio Scorpio moons have a reputation for being intense, due to their tendency to delve deeply into situations and relationships. —Lisa Stardust, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024

There is a perverse tendency, in such situations, to treat the artist’s act of self-destruction as somehow a final artistic flourish. —Chris Wiley, The New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2024

The Washing Machine Project, founded in 2019, has conducted pilot studies and ethnographic research in 13 countries around the world to gain insight into washing machine tendencies; and distributed Divya washing machines to communities in India, Iraq, Lebanon, the U.S., Mexico and Uganda. —Detroit Free Press, 15 Apr. 2024

Ford has a tendency to over-pursue and struggles to disengage once a blocker locks on to him, but an NFL strength program and coaching could help alleviate that issue. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024

If your own Jackson reminiscences aren’t enough, here are five more reasons to hurry to the Buell for a jukebox musical crafted with an attention to detail and pleasure befitting its subject’s stickler tendencies. —Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2024

However, her dad and I have noticed a tendency to push right up against a rule or boundary. —Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin tendentia, noun derivative of Latin tendent-, tendens, present participle of tendere "to extend outward, stretch, spread out, direct (one's course), aim (at a purpose)" (Medieval Latin, "to lead toward, move in a particular direction") — more at tender entry 3

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing tendency

• central tendency
• counter-tendency

Kids Definition

tendency

noun

ten·​den·​cy ˈten-dən-sē 

plural tendencies

1

: a direction or approach toward a place, object, result, or limit

2

: a leaning toward a particular kind of thought or action