Someone's disposition is the way that they tend to behave or feel.
The rides are unsuitable for people of a nervous disposition.
He was a man of decisive action and an adventurous disposition.
...his friendly and cheerful disposition.
Synonyms: character, nature, spirit, make-up More Synonyms of disposition
2. singular noun [usually NOUN to-infinitive]
A dispositionto do something is a willingness to do it.
[formal]
This has given him a disposition to consider our traditions critically.
They show no disposition to improvise or to take risks.
Synonyms: tendency, inclination, propensity, habit More Synonyms of disposition
3. singular noun
If you refer to the disposition of a number of objects, you mean the pattern in which they are arranged or their positions in relation to each other.
[formal]
...to understand the buildings from the disposition of walls and entrances.
Synonyms: arrangement, grouping, ordering, organization More Synonyms of disposition
4. countable noun
The disposition of money or property is the act of giving or distributing it to a number of people.
[law]
Judge Stacks was appointed to oversee the disposition of funds. [+ of]
Synonyms: control, management, direction, regulation More Synonyms of disposition
disposition in British English
(ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən)
noun
1.
a person's usual temperament or frame of mind
2.
a natural or acquired tendency, inclination, or habit in a person or thing
3. another word for disposal (sense 2), disposal (sense 3), disposal (sense 4), disposal (sense 5)
4. philosophy, logic
a property that consists not in the present state of an object, but in its propensity to change in a certain way under certain conditions, as brittleness which consists in the propensity to break when struck
Compare occurrent
5. archaic
manner of placing or arranging
Derived forms
dispositional (ˌdispoˈsitional)
adjective
disposition in American English
(ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən)
noun
1.
a putting in order or being put in order; arrangement
the disposition of the troops
2.
management or settlement of affairs
3.
a selling or giving away, as of property
4.
a getting rid of something
the disposition of wastes
5.
the power or authority to arrange, settle, or manage; control
6.
an inclination or tendency
a disposition to quarrel
7.
one's customary frame of mind; one's nature or temperament
SYNONYMY NOTE: disposition refers to the normal or prevailing aspect of one's nature [a genial disposition]; temperament refers to the balance of traits that are manifested in one's behavior or thinking[an artistic temperament]; temper refers to one's basic emotional nature, esp. as regards relative quickness to anger[a hot temper, an even temper]; character is applied to the sum of moral qualities associated with a distinctive individual[a weak character] and, unqualified, suggests moral strength, self-discipline, etc. [a man of character]; personality is applied to the sum of physical, mental, and emotional qualities that distinguishone as a person [a negative personality] and, unqualified, suggests attractiveness or charm [a girl with personality]
Derived forms
dispositional (ˌdispoˈsitional)
adjective
Word origin
ME disposicioun < OFr disposition < L dispositio < dispositus, pp. of disponere, to arrange: see di-1 & position
COBUILD Collocations
disposition
sensitive disposition
sunny disposition
Examples of 'disposition' in a sentence
disposition
He is, and imagine how inconvenient this is, a nice person with a calm and sunny disposition.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But he himself showed an early disposition towards animal welfare.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She has a very sunny disposition and just burns brightness.
The Sun (2015)
But those of a sensitive disposition might want to avoid this.
The Sun (2008)
Knowing that you have a genetic disposition is not necessarily helpful.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Viewers of a more nervous disposition may have felt their stomachs shaken and moral cores rocked.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was not just the seagulls who were lacking a sunny disposition.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And those of a sensitive disposition are advised not to read any further.
The Sun (2008)
Unlike him she was of a nervous and pessimistic disposition.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Investors of a more sunny disposition should buy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
My view is that you have a natural disposition but you react in different ways according to certain situations.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Instead she would calmly await delivery and then show absolutely no disposition to praise a work that did not meet her standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Her brother remembered her as always "of a cheerful and jolly disposition '.
Paul Preston DOVES OF WAR: Four Women of Spain (2002)
Luther's diseases were caused by the way he lived rather than by genetic disposition.
Christianity Today (2000)
For those of a sensitive disposition, look away now.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If the government wants to collect more tax, it should show a favourable disposition towards big business.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His polite, friendly disposition and his entertaining games have made him one of the most popular world champions.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Regardless of your natural mood and disposition, if you are in the right job you should have some enthusiasm.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Their natural disposition is to make light of the scars of battle - to laugh off the danger and play down the wounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I had often seen the same look on his face in the morning as he awakened as he was of the most cheerful disposition.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They are also of British background, genial disposition and impeccable manners.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Jos Sedley had acted as a man of his disposition would, when the announcement of the family misfortune reached him.
William Thackeray Vanity Fair (1837)
In other languages
disposition
British English: disposition NOUN
Someone's disposition is the way that they tend to behave or feel.
The rides are unsuitable for people of a nervous disposition.
American English: disposition
Brazilian Portuguese: disposição
Chinese: 性情
European Spanish: disposición
French: nature
German: Veranlagung
Italian: carattere
Japanese: 気質
Korean: 기질
European Portuguese: disposição
Latin American Spanish: disposición
Chinese translation of 'disposition'
disposition
(dɪspəˈzɪʃən)
n
(c) (= nature) 性情 (xìngqíng)
(frm)
a disposition to do sth (= inclination) 做某事的倾(傾)向 (zuò mǒushì de qīngxiàng)
of a nervous disposition生性紧(緊)张(張)的 (shēngxìng jǐnzhāng de)
1 (noun)
Definition
a person's usual temperament
his friendly and cheerful disposition
Synonyms
character
There is a side to his character which you haven't seen yet.
nature
She trusted people. That was her nature.
spirit
They approached the talks in a conciliatory spirit.
make-up
He became convinced that there was some fatal flaw in his make-up.
constitution
a small research team looking into the chemical constitution of coal
temper
He's known for his placid temper.
temperament
His impulsive temperament regularly got him into difficulties.
2 (noun)
Definition
a tendency or habit
They show no disposition to take risks.
Synonyms
tendency
He has a tendency towards snobbery.
inclination
She set out to follow her artistic inclinations.
propensity
She hadn't reckoned on his propensity for violence.
habit
He has an endearing habit of licking his lips.
leaning
I always had a leaning towards sport.
bent
a bent for natural history
bias
There were fierce attacks on the BBC for alleged political bias.
readiness
predisposition
the predisposition to behave in a certain way
proclivity (formal)
Los Angeles's unique proclivity for experimental arty endeavour
proneness
He has a proneness to making unfortunate remarks.
3 (noun)
Definition
arrangement
(archaic)
the disposition of walls and entrances
Synonyms
arrangement
an imaginative flower arrangement
grouping
There were two main political groupings pressing for independence.
ordering
organization
the internal organization of the department
distribution
those who control the distribution of jobs
disposal
placement
The treatment involves the placement of electrodes in the inner ear.
4 (noun)
to oversee the disposition of funds
Synonyms
control
The first aim of his government would be to establish control over the republic's territory.
management
the responsibility for its day-to-day management
direction
The house was built under the direction of his partner.
regulation
They also have responsibility for the regulation of nurseries.
disposal
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bent
Definition
personal inclination or aptitude
a bent for natural history
Synonyms
inclination,
ability,
taste,
facility,
talent,
leaning,
tendency,
preference,
faculty,
forte,
flair,
knack,
penchant,
bag (slang),
propensity,
aptitude,
predisposition,
predilection,
proclivity (formal),
turn of mind
in the sense of bias
Definition
mental tendency, esp. prejudice
There were fierce attacks on the BBC for alleged political bias.
Synonyms
prejudice,
leaning,
bent,
tendency,
inclination,
penchant,
intolerance,
bigotry,
propensity,
favouritism,
predisposition,
nepotism,
unfairness,
predilection,
proclivity (formal),
partiality,
narrow-mindedness,
proneness,
one-sidedness
in the sense of constitution
Definition
the make-up or structure of something
a small research team looking into the chemical constitution of coal