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Definition of penchant

penchant

/ˈpɛntʃənt/
pen · chant
Plural:penchants
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penchant Lexical Profile

penchant Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something.

Example

"The professor had a lifelong penchant for collecting rare nineteenth-century botanical illustrations."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for penchant
Antonyms
View all antonyms for penchant

Word Nuance & Usage

Because "penchant" denotes an inclination toward something, it is almost always followed by the preposition "for" (e.g., "a penchant for drama"). Do not confuse it with "pendant" (a hanging ornament).

• Rhymes for penchant

• Nearby Words

penalize
penalty
penance
penchant
pencil
pencilsmelt
pend oreille

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 17th century from French penchant, the noun use of the present participle of pencher ("to incline" or "to lean"), ultimately from Vulgar Latin pendicare, a derivative of Latin pendere ("to hang").

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Penchant. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/penchant
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