proclivity

/pɹoʊˈklɪvəti/

Group 1Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(noun)
A tendency or natural inclination to behave in a particular way
GRE

Example in Context

His proclivity for taking risks served him well in venture capital but proved disastrous in his personal finances.

Synonyms

tendencyleaninginclination

Etymology

A tendency to lean or slope toward something.

  • pro- (Latin) — forward
  • clivus (Latin) — slope

Memory Aid

🏞️Sounds like “proclivity

If you have a PROCLIVITY for ice cream, you're leaning toward the nearest sundae!

Visual Association

🍦A person slumping over a giant ice cream cone, unable to resist its pull.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “proclivity” mean on the GRE?

proclivity (noun) means “A tendency or natural inclination to behave in a particular way”. His proclivity for taking risks served him well in venture capital but proved disastrous in his personal finances.

How to remember “proclivity” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “proclivity” sounds like “proclivity”. If you have a PROCLIVITY for ice cream, you're leaning toward the nearest sundae!

What are synonyms for “proclivity”?

Common synonyms: tendency, leaning, inclination.