inclination

[in-kluh-ney-shuhn]

noun

1. a disposition or bent, especially of the mind or will; a liking or preference.

   Much against his inclination, he was forced to resign.

   Synonyms: penchant, predisposition, predilection, proclivity, propensity, tendency, leaning
   Antonyms: dislike

2. something to which one is inclined.

   In sports his inclination is tennis.

3. the act of inclining; state of being inclined.

4. a tendency toward a certain condition, action, etc..

   the door's inclination to stick.

5. deviation or amount of deviation from a normal, especially horizontal or vertical, direction or position.

   Synonyms: pitch, grade, fall, rise, slant, slope

6. an inclined surface.

   Synonyms: ramp, pitch, grade, fall, rise, slant, slope

7. Geometry.

   1. the angle between two lines or two planes.

   2. the angle formed by the x-axis and a given line.

8. Astronomy.

   1. the angle between the orbital plane of a planet and another given plane, usually the ecliptic.

   2. the angle between the equatorial and orbital planes of a planet.

9. Magnetism.,  dip.

inclination

/ ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. a particular disposition, esp a liking or preference; tendency

   I've no inclination for such dull work

2. the degree of deviation from a particular plane, esp a horizontal or vertical plane

3. a sloping or slanting surface; incline

4. the act of inclining or the state of being inclined

5. the act of bowing or nodding the head

6. maths

   1. the angle between a line on a graph and the positive limb of the x- axis

   2. the smaller dihedral angle between one plane and another

7. astronomy the angle between the plane of the orbit of a planet or comet and another plane, usually that of the ecliptic

8. physics another name for dip

inclination

1. A deviation or the degree of deviation from the horizontal or vertical.

Other Word Forms

• inclinational adjective
• noninclination noun
• noninclinational adjective
• overinclination noun
• superinclination noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inclination¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English inclinacioun, from Latin inclīnātiōn-, stem of inclīnātiō, from inclīnāt(us) “caused to bend” (past participle of inclīnāre “to cause to bend”; incline ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

My inclination is to do the fundamentals — it’s a character comedy.

From Los Angeles Times

This inclination appears to be especially true for conservatives, because a fear of death triggers worries about a changing world, and a lack of control.

From Salon

When it comes to Russia, India has shown little inclination to bend to US pressure.

From BBC

“It’s all about oppression, about wanting what’s going to destroy you. That’s a very Gothic, gay inclination that I love,” the actor said.

From Los Angeles Times

The difference, of course, is that before Jan. 6, those officials did not have recent experience or an inclination to interfere with elections after they had happened.

From Salon

Related Words

• affection 
• appetite 
• aptitude 
• bias 
• capability 
• desire 
• disposition 
• impulse 
• leaning 
• penchant 
• predilection 
• predisposition 
• preference 
• prejudice 
• proclivity 
• propensity 
• temperament