What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
disposition
Example
She has a cheerful disposition that makes her easy to be around. [disposition: noun]
Example
Despite the setback, he maintained a positive disposition towards the project. [disposition: noun]
Example
The disposition of the furniture in the room made it feel cramped. [disposition: noun]
tendency
Example
He has a tendency to procrastinate when faced with difficult tasks. [tendency: noun]
Example
There is a tendency for prices to rise during peak season. [tendency: noun]
Example
The team's tendency to make mistakes cost them the game. [tendency: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tendency is more commonly used than disposition in everyday language. Tendency is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while disposition is less common and often used in psychology or personality assessments.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between disposition and tendency?
Both disposition and tendency can be used in formal or informal contexts, but disposition may be perceived as more formal due to its association with psychology or personality assessments.
