Tendency — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈten-dən(t)-sē/ ten·den·cy

Meaning & Definition of Tendency

Tendency (noun)

  1. a proneness to a particular kind of thought or action
  2. direction or approach toward a place, object, effect, or limit
  3. the purposeful trend of something written or said, aim

Tendency (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an established pattern of behavior

    "a tendency to drop things"

    "a tendency to make snap judgments"

    similar: aptness, proneness, propensity, way
    related: affinity, aptitude, bent, disposition, inclination, leaning, mind-set, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, turn, custom, habit, pattern, practice, routine, wont, eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity, trick
    near: averseness, disinclination, dislike, indisposition

  2. a prevailing or general movement or inclination

    "we'll be seeing a tendency for skirt lengths to get shorter this coming season"

    similar: current, direction, drift, leaning, run, tide, trend, wind
    related: curve, downside, shift, swing, turn, turnabout, upside, custom, habit, propensity, tenor, way, countercurrent, countertrend, undercurrent, undertow

  3. a habitual attraction to some activity or thing

    "a youth with a natural tendency toward arts and crafts instead of sports"

    similar: affection, affinity, aptitude, bent, bias, bone, devices, disposition, genius, habitude, impulse, inclination, leaning, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, propensity, turn
    related: favor, one-sidedness, partisanship, prejudice, endowment, faculty, flair, gift, knack, talent, addiction, appetite, fancy, fondness, like, liking, preference, taste, forte, speciality, specialty, convention, custom, habit, pattern, practice, routine, trick, way, wont, eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, kink, oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity
    near: allergy, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish, distaste, detachment, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, apathy, disinterestedness, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Tendency

The most common words with a similar meaning to Tendency:

aptness, proneness, propensity, way, current, direction, drift, leaning, run, tide, trend, wind, affection, affinity, aptitude, bent, bias, bone, devices, disposition, genius, habitude, impulse, inclination, partiality, penchant, predilection, predisposition, proclivity, turn

Related Words for Tendency

mind-set, custom, habit, pattern, practice, routine, wont, eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity, trick, curve, downside, shift, swing, turnabout, upside, tenor, countercurrent, countertrend, undercurrent, undertow, favor, one-sidedness, partisanship, prejudice, endowment

Near Antonyms of Tendency

averseness, disinclination, dislike, indisposition, allergy, aversion, disfavor, disliking, disrelish, distaste, detachment, impartiality, neutrality, objectivity, apathy, disinterestedness, indifference, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

Word Forms of Tendency

Inflections: tendencies

Origin & Etymology of Tendency

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") tender:3

First known use: 1628

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Tendency

Words & Phrases Containing Tendency

central tendency, countertendency

Frequently Asked Questions about Tendency

What does "Tendency" mean?

"Tendency" means a proneness to a particular kind of thought or action. As a noun, it is defined as: a proneness to a particular kind of thought or action. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Tendency"?

Other words for "Tendency" include aptness, proneness, propensity, way, current, direction, drift and leaning. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Tendency" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Tendency"?

There are 78 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Tendency". Common alternatives include aptness, proneness, propensity, way, current, direction, drift, leaning, run and tide.

How do you use "Tendency" in a sentence?

Examples of "Tendency" in a sentence: "a tendency to drop things"; "a tendency to make snap judgments"; "we'll be seeing a tendency for skirt lengths to get shorter this coming season".

Is "Tendency" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Tendency" is a noun.

Is "Tendency" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Tendency" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Tendency"?

"Tendency" is pronounced /ˈten-dən(t)-sē/ and divided into syllables as ten·den·cy.

What is the origin of the word "Tendency"?

"Tendency" comes from 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") tender:3. First known use: 1628.