tendency

noun

ten·​den·​cy ˈten-dən(t)-sē How to pronounce tendency (audio)
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
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 Like with Nio, the Li system has a tendency to cut out due to the lack of high-definition mapping on the highway and on elevated roads within Shanghai (more about what happens in those situations later), but the experience is far more refined. Mark Andrews, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024 In this, the second installment of her Jordan Manning series, readers catch up with the titular character, a TV journalist with vigilante tendencies who investigates the disappearance of a stay-at-home mom, Marla. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 Eyes forward Barnes offered a sage response when asked about Monday’s loss to the Bulls and his team’s tendency to play down to the level of competition against teams that are missing one or more of their best players. Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024 Containing Russia in Ukraine means keeping the line of contact as close to the Russian border as possible, constraining Russia’s expansionist tendencies. Max Bergmann, Foreign Affairs, 6 Mar. 2024 Lane's own mother, the fearsome antiques maven Mrs. Kim (Emily Kuroda), is a whole different story, which makes her rock & roll rebellion the perfect counterbalance to Rory's bookish tendencies. Ew Staff Updated, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 But, lithium-ion batteries aren't perfect – this rise comes with risks, such as their tendency to slow down during cold weather and even catch on fire. Wesley Chang, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024 For instance, traumatic life experiences can create a tendency to hoard possessions. Annie Midori Atherton, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 The Warriors’ hot-and-cold tendencies were on display in the third quarter, at one point rebuilding their lead to as much as 17 points before seeing New York close within 73-67 with a 13-2 run. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tendency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tendency was in 1628

Dictionary Entries Near tendency

Cite this Entry

“Tendency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tendency. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tendency

noun
ten·​den·​cy ˈten-dən-sē How to pronounce tendency (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on tendency

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