penchant

noun

pen·​chant ˈpen-chənt 

especially British ˈpäⁿ-ˌshäⁿ

: a strong and continued inclination

broadly : liking

Did you know?

English has multiple p-words that imply a strong instinct or liking for something, including propensity and proclivity, but to keep things precise, penchant is the proper word for implying a pronounced, persistent taste in a person ("a penchant for pretty pendants") or a predominant predilection for performing particular actions ("a penchant for petting penguins"). Penchant traces back all the way to the Latin verb pendere, meaning "to weigh," but is more immediately preceded in English by the French word penchant, from the present participle of pencher, meaning "to incline."

Synonyms of penchant

• tendency
• aptitude
• inclination
• devices
• affinity
• knack

Choose the Right Synonym for penchant

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 penchant in a Sentence

Aside from the Catholic penchant for fish on Fridays, there is also the tradition of eating red beans and rice on Monday … —Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005

Whether manifested in feminine decor or in an approach to teaching that assumes a female penchant for cooperative, or "connected," learning, stereotypical notions of femininity often infect institutions for women and girls. —Wendy Kaminer, Atlantic, April 1998

From both her father and mother she had inherited a penchant for art, literature, philosophy, and music. Already at eighteen she was dreaming of painting, singing, writing poetry, writing books, acting—anything and everything. —Theodore Dreiser, The Titan, 1914

a penchant for sitting by the window and staring moodily off into space

Recent Examples on the Web

But there are also several reasons to suggest he simply couldn’t be trusted to lead the red-ball side — from his off-field antics in New Zealand last winter, to his penchant for daft dismissals at crucial moments in games. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 24 July 2026

When trends swing in one direction—like the shift from the cool-toned chrome finishes of the ‘90s to the penchant for warm brass in recent years—all-silver finishes look dated. — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 July 2026

Freitas has embraced Mugler’s penchant for provocation and powerful femininity, bringing back linebacker shoulders and styles like the nipple-ring dress worn by Chappell Roan at this year’s Grammys. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 23 July 2026

Their dad, Ed, also played football in college at Chico State University, but his career was cut short due to his penchant for partying. — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, noun derivative from present participle of pencher "to lean, slope, be inclined, tend," going back to Old French pengier, going back to Vulgar Latin *pendicāre, from *pendere "to hang" + *-icāre, verb formative — more at pendent

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for penchant

• trenchant
• dissentient

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Kids Definition

penchant

noun

pen·​chant ˈpen-chənt 

: a strong liking