tendency

The definition of a tendency is an inclination towards a certain action or behavior.

(noun)

An example of a tendency is when you usually are very neat and tidy.

See tendency in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. tendencies

an inclination to move or act in a particular direction or way; constant disposition to some action or state; leaning; bias; propensity; bent
a course or apparent course toward some purpose, object, or result; drift
a definite purpose or point of view in something said or written

Origin: ML tendentia < L tendens, prp. of tendere, to tend

See tendency in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ten·den·cies

Movement or prevailing movement in a given direction: observed the tendency of the wind; the shoreward tendency of the current.
A characteristic likelihood: fabric that has a tendency to wrinkle.
A predisposition to think, act, behave, or proceed in a particular way.
a. An implicit direction or purpose: not openly liberal, but that is the tendency of the book.
b. An implicit point of view in written or spoken matter; a bias.

Origin:

Origin: Medieval Latin tendentia

Origin: , from Latin tendēns, tendent-

Origin: , present participle of tendere, to tend; see tend¹

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