Proclivity    (pronounced proh-kliv-ih-tee) noun


Definition

a natural tendency or inclination (especially toward something that is improper, undesirable, or harmful to one's reputation); predisposition.

Main Example

  • Many colleges and churches have prohibited the use of 15-passenger vans because of their proclivity to be involved in very serious accidents. Studies show that when fully occupied, these vehicles are six times more likely to roll over and crash than other light trucks and vans.

    Workplace Examples

  • No, Arthur's firing doesn't surprise me at all! Considering his various proclivities such as padding expense statements, sexual harassment of his female employees, personal phone calls that lasted for hours. . . it's a wonder he wasn't dismissed earlier.

  • You think you have it bad! Let me tell you what it's like working for Nina. Most weeknights, she keeps us in meetings till eight o'clock. On top of that, she has this proclivity for dumping so much work on us on Fridays, I'm forced to spend entire weekends right here in the office!

    Other Examples

  • someone with a proclivity to sneer at others' accomplishments

  • movie critics Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper commenting about the proclivity of some of our most likeable actors, such as John Travolta, to appear in bad movies much too often

  • some in the Catholic Church hierarchy under fire for being too soft on priests who were known to have a proclivity for sexually abusing children

  • the recent incident in which boxer Mike Tyson was charged with assault following a brawl outside a hotel reminding us of the former heavyweight champion's proclivity for unpredictable and violent outbursts

    © 2003 V.J. Singal

    This Month's Other Words

    Putative
    Apostasy and Apostate
    Atrophy
    Obfuscate
    Unfettered
    Antithesis
    Vociferous

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