/ ˈtendənsi; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C ] tendency (for sb/sth) (to do sth) | tendency (to / towards sth) if sb/sth has a particular tendency , they are likely to behave or act in a particular way :
to display artistic, etc. tendencies
I have a tendency to talk too much when I'm nervous.
There is a tendency for this disease to run in families.
She has a strong natural tendency towards caution.
2.
[ C ] tendency (for sb/sth) (to do sth) | tendency (to / towards sth) a new custom that is starting to develop
SYN trend :
There is a growing tendency among employers to hire casual staff.
3.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] ( BrE ) a group within a larger political group, whose views are more extreme than those of the rest of the group
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin tendentia , from tendere to stretch.