Disposition
/ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
nounB2
Definition
Disposition is the natural way a person feels, thinks, or behaves most of the time. It can also mean the way things are arranged or organized in a place or situation. For example, someone can have a cheerful disposition, meaning they are often happy and friendly.
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See It in Action
A person's usual mood or character
- •She has a cheerful disposition and makes friends easily.
- •His calm disposition helps him stay peaceful in difficult times.
- •People with a kind disposition often help others without being asked.
The way something is arranged or placed
- •The disposition of furniture in the room made it feel cozy.
- •The general disposition of the troops was ready for battle.
- •The disposition of the books on the shelf was neat and organized.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "disposition" like "mood" or "feeling," but more about a usual or long-term way someone is inside, not just a momentary feeling.
- ✓Picture a person smiling calmly in many situations—that calm smile shows their disposition.
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you meet someone who is always kind or always serious.
- ✓Sounds like "this-position" → Imagine a person’s "position" or place inside their mind that shows how they usually act or feel.
- ✓Think of a character in a story who is always brave or always shy—that is their disposition, like their personality.
- ✓NOT like "emotion" (which is short and changes fast), disposition is more steady and lasts longer.
- ✓NOT like "appearance" (how someone looks), disposition is about how someone behaves or feels inside.
- ✓NOT like "arrangement" (physical order), but can also mean how things are placed or arranged in a situation.
Try Other Words
- •Temperament: a person's usual mood or nature (Use when talking about personality traits)
- •Character: qualities that make a person unique (Use when emphasizing morals or personality)
- •Arrangement: the way things are placed (Use when talking about physical layout)
- •Nature: the basic qualities of a person or thing (Use in general or formal contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "dis-" (a prefix meaning "apart" or "away") + "position" (place or arrangement)
- •Etymology: From Latin "dispositio," meaning "arrangement" or "management"
- •Historical development: Originally meant the act of arranging or placing; later also used for personal qualities or temperament
- •Modern usage: Used mainly to describe personality traits or how things are arranged in space or situations
Reflect & Connect
•How can a person's disposition affect their friendships or work?
•Can the disposition of a room or place change how people feel when they are inside it?
Fill in the blanks
1.Her disposition is usually ___, so she rarely gets angry or upset.
2.The disposition of the chairs in the room made it easy for people to ___ and talk.
3.Unlike a quick mood, disposition is how someone feels or acts ___ over time.
4.He has a friendly disposition and often ___ to help others.
5.The general disposition of the team was ___ and ready to work hard.
6.When furniture has a poor disposition, the room can feel ___ and uncomfortable.
7.You can tell a lot about a person’s disposition by how they ___ to new situations.