penchant
noun
Did you know?
English has multiple p-words that imply a strong instinct or liking for something, including propensity and proclivity, but to keep things precise, penchant is the proper word for implying a pronounced, persistent taste in a person ("a penchant for pretty pendants") or a predominant predilection for performing particular actions ("a penchant for petting penguins"). Penchant traces back all the way to the Latin verb pendere, meaning "to weigh," but is more immediately preceded in English by the French word penchant, from the present participle of pencher, meaning "to incline."
Examples of penchant in a Sentence
Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005
Whether manifested in feminine decor or in an approach to teaching that assumes a female penchant for cooperative, or "connected," learning, stereotypical notions of femininity often infect institutions for women and girls.
—Wendy Kaminer, Atlantic, April 1998
From both her father and mother she had inherited a penchant for art, literature, philosophy, and music. Already at eighteen she was dreaming of painting, singing, writing poetry, writing books, acting—anything and everything.
—Theodore Dreiser, The Titan, 1914
a penchant for sitting by the window and staring moodily off into space
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Despite this concern about sustainability, Gen Z has a penchant for fast fashion, which is known for being made primarily of synthetic fibers.
—Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 21 Apr. 2025
His attempt to reform the Vatican was marked by both action and a Jesuit penchant for deliberation.
—Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Martha’s keen eye for decorating and penchant for restoration was obvious, and led to a series of business endeavors that quickly earned her national acclaim.
—Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penchant
Cite this Entry
“Penchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penchant. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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penchant
noun
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