# penchant

/ˈpɛntʃənt/ (US) · /pˈɒnʃɒn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/penchant
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a strong liking

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a strong liking for something, especially something that other people might find strange or specific.

For teachers: a strong or habitual liking for something or a tendency to do something. Often takes the preposition 'for'.

- He has a penchant for expensive watches and owns over twenty of them.
- Despite her professional focus on modern architecture, she retained a lifelong penchant for collecting Victorian landscape paintings.

Usage: Usually follows the pattern 'a penchant for [something]'.

## Examples

- He has a penchant for wearing colorful ties.
- Her penchant for detail made her an excellent choice for the role of lead editor.
- Despite his penchant for solitude, the author occasionally emerged from his remote cabin to give lectures at the local university.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.