English Reference

Word

disposition

Phoneticsdis·po·si·tion, stress on the third syllable

US/ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

UK/dˌɪspəzˈɪʃən/

Definitions

01character or temperament

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. your usual mood or the natural way you behave towards others.

n. a person's inherent qualities of mind and character; their natural temperament.

“She has a very sunny disposition and always looks for the best in people.”

“His naturally nervous disposition made him ill-suited for the high-pressure environment of the trading floor.”

02physical arrangement

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal

n. the way that things are placed or arranged in a particular order.

n. the relative arrangement or placement of objects or parts.

“The general carefully planned the disposition of his troops across the valley.”

“The architect spent weeks perfecting the disposition of the rooms to ensure maximum exposure to natural light throughout the day.”

03legal settlement

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Technical · Formal

n. the final decision about what happens to property or a legal case.

n. the final settlement of a matter; in law, the transfer of property or the final determination of a court case.

“The will explained the disposition of his money after his death.”

“The court's final disposition of the assets was delayed by several months due to unforeseen challenges from the creditors.”

04a tendency

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Academic

n. a natural tendency to behave in a certain way or to develop a certain health problem.

n. a tendency or inclination to act in a particular way or to be affected by a specific condition.

“Some people have a genetic disposition to certain types of heart disease.”

“The report noted a growing disposition among younger voters to support independent candidates over traditional parties.”

Real-World Examples

“For City fans of a certain age and disposition, beating Gillingham in the playoff is our top footballing memory.”
The Guardian 25 Sept 2026
“The pooled analysis of a total of 578 men with a low disposition to trust revealed an almost 17% increase in trusting behavior.”
Phys.org 12 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English disposicioun, from Middle French disposition, from Latin dispositiōnem, accusative singular of dispositiō, from dispōnō. By surface analysis, dispose + -ition. Doublet of dispositio.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

disposition(B2)

Domains

LawMedicineMusic

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Frequent
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

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English Reference