YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

proclivity

Noun

IPA /prəˈklɪvəti/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

A natural tendency to do or prefer a particular thing.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

proclivity/prəˈklɪvəti/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Both ways

A person has a task to begin
They repeatedly put it off
The same tendency appears again

A proclivity for postponing tasks is a natural tendency to do so.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

His proclivity for arriving late annoyed his friends.
The study noted a proclivity to choose familiar solutions.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

His ________ for arriving late annoyed his friends.

Show the answer

proclivity — A natural tendency to do or prefer a particular thing.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “proclivity” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

A natural tendency to do or prefer a particular thing.

Compare: His proclivity for arriving late annoyed his friends.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From Latin proclivitas, related to proclivis, meaning inclined or sloping forward.

Did you know?

Proclivity for something and proclivity to do something are both useful patterns.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.