disposition

noun

dis·​po·​si·​tion ˌdi-spə-ˈzi-shən 

1

a

: the usual attitude or mood of a person or animal

a coworker with a cheerful/sunny disposition

The floppy-eared pups have … a gentle disposition …

—Maura Sirianni

b

: the tendency to act or think in a certain manner under given circumstances

had a disposition toward criminal behavior

Their disposition was to always think positively.

c

: susceptibility, predisposition

people with a genetic disposition to the disease

2

: the act or the power of disposing or the state of being disposed: such as

a

: administration, control

… many people have … a genius for the disposition of affairs …

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

b

: final arrangement : settlement

the disposition of the case

c

: the disposing of a corpse (as by burial or cremation)

laws regarding the disposition of remains

… allows families to select options for their loved ones' final disposition.

—Shelley Nelson

d(1)

: transfer to the care or possession of another

A will is a legal document that is used in the disposition of property.

(2)

: the power of such transferal

e

: orderly arrangement

… the Birch Building's … simple disposition of windows …

—Trevor Boddy

dispositional

ˌdi-spə-ˈzi-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between disposition and predisposition?

Sometimes disposition and predisposition mean the same thing, and sometimes they do not. When refering to a person's usual mood or attitude you would speak of their disposition, not their predisposition. However, when referring to a person's tendency, or inclination, the two words are largely synonymous (one might have either a predisposition or a disposition towards being generous). An exception to this synonym comes in medical use, where it is far more common to use predisposition (as in "a predisposition to nearsightedness").

What does disposition mean in court?

In legal use the word disposition may have several possible meanings. It may refer to the sentence given to a convicted juvenile defendant, or to the final determination of a matter (such as a case or motion) by a court. It may also be defined as "transfer to the care, possession, or ownership of another" as well as "the power of such transferal."

What does disposition mean in business?

In business, disposition may refer either to "the transfer of property from one to another by any of various means including gift, barter, sale, or will" or to “the plan for or method by which such a transfer is executed.”

Synonyms of disposition

• temperament
• temper
• attitude

Choose the Right Synonym for disposition

disposition, temperament, temper, character, personality mean the dominant quality or qualities distinguishing a person or group.

disposition implies customary moods and attitude toward the life around one.

a cheerful disposition

temperament implies a pattern of innate characteristics associated with one's specific physical and nervous organization.

an artistic temperament

temper implies the qualities acquired through experience that determine how a person or group meets difficulties or handles situations.

a resilient temper

character applies to the aggregate of moral qualities by which a person is judged apart from intelligence, competence, or special talents.

strength of character

personality applies to an aggregate of qualities that distinguish one as a person.

a somber personality

Examples of disposition in a Sentence

They move jerkily, like puppets, but have a happy disposition; they are perpetually smiling and are given to frequent paroxysms of laughter. —Matt Ridley, Genome, 1999

… the eight species of wild equids (horses and their relatives) vary greatly in disposition, even though all eight are genetically so close to each other that they will interbreed and produce healthy (though usually sterile) offspring. —Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs, and Steel, 1997

His father, Increase [Mather], with all his faults—his sour, depressive disposition, his open preference for England—is much more attractive. —Monroe K. Spears, American Ambitions, 1987

Her easy disposition and sociability masked the intensity of her feelings. —John Edgar Wideman, Bothers and Keepers, 1984

a dog with an excellent disposition

Her disposition was to always think negatively.

He has a disposition toward criminal behavior.

people with a genetic disposition toward a particular disease

A will is a legal document that is used in the disposition of property.

Recent Examples on the Web

Similar to Rogan’s disposition to endorse pseudoscience and bad medical advice. —Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025

The face is the same, but the conditions around the face — time of day, weather, background, the subject’s personal disposition — vary, and that changes the mood of every photo. —Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025

Or to send any kind of message that stifles his defining disposition. —Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025

Halley is viewed as having more academic disposition and is more enmeshed with operations and technology and is respected for his industry smarts. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin disposition-, dispositio, from disponere — see dispose entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for disposition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

Kids Definition

disposition

noun

dis·​po·​si·​tion ˌdis-pə-ˈzish-ən 

1

: the act or power of disposing : disposal

2

: arrangement sense 1

the disposition of furniture in a room

3

a

: one's usual attitude or mood

a cheerful disposition

b

: a leaning toward a particular way of thinking or acting : tendency, inclination

neither showed a disposition to retreat

Legal Definition

disposition

noun

dis·​po·​si·​tion

1

a

: the final determination of a matter (as a case or motion) by a court or quasi-judicial tribunal

the beneficiary of such a disposition of charges against him

—United States v. Smith, 354 A.2d 510 (1976)

compare decision, holding, judgment, opinion, ruling, verdict

b

: the sentence given to a convicted criminal defendant

probation is often a desirable disposition

—W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel

also : the sentence given to or treatment prescribed for a juvenile offender

2

: transfer to the care, possession, or ownership of another

to either a surviving spouse or a charity, those dispositions are totally exonerated from the payment of taxes

—Matter of McKinney, 477 N.Y.S.2d 367 (1984)

also : the power of such transferral

3

: the state or condition of being predisposed : predisposition