The most common disposition meaning is a person's natural temperament, the way they tend to feel and behave most of the time. Someone with a cheerful disposition is usually upbeat; someone with a nervous disposition worries easily.
The word also has other uses that surprise people. A disposition can be a tendency ("a disposition to argue"), the way things are arranged, and in law and business, the final outcome of a case or the selling or handing over of property. If you need to define disposition for an essay or a contract, this guide gives a clear disposition definition for each sense and shows which one fits where.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Natural temperament; a tendency; an arrangement; a legal or financial settlement or transferPart of speech
Noun; plural dispositionsPronunciation
dis-puh-ZISH-uhnWord forms
dispose (verb), disposed (adjective, as in "well disposed"), dispositional (adjective)Origin
Via Old French from Latin dispositio, "arrangement", from disponere, "to put in order"Close words
temperament, nature, character, inclination, demeanorRegister
Neutral to formal; technical in law, finance and psychology
Disposition meaning: four senses
- Temperament: a person's usual mood and character. "Her calm disposition helps in emergencies." Nine times out of ten, this is what speakers have in mind.
- Tendency or inclination: a leaning toward doing something. "He has a disposition to take risks." Plants and materials can also have dispositions, such as a disposition to rust.
- Arrangement: how things or people are placed, as in "the disposition of furniture" or "the disposition of troops before the battle".
- Settlement or transfer: in law and finance, how a case is finally resolved, or how property is sold, given away or otherwise passed on.
All four come back to one root idea: how something is set out or placed, whether that is your mood, your leanings, objects in a room, or assets in an estate.
Disposition as temperament
When describing people, disposition refers to something deep and lasting, not a passing mood. You might be grumpy today, but if you are usually warm, you have a warm disposition. Common adjectives that pair with it:
- Positive: sunny, cheerful, gentle, easygoing, generous, kind
- Negative: nervous, gloomy, irritable, suspicious, quarrelsome
Psychologists sometimes speak of dispositional traits, meaning stable personality features, as opposed to behaviour caused by the situation. Our page on introverts describes one well known example of a lasting tendency. Temperament words like gentle, moody and stubborn are grouped under people and feelings.
Disposition in law and finance
Lawyers and accountants use the word in narrow, practical ways:
- Case disposition: in courts, particularly American ones, the disposition is how a case ended, such as dismissed, settled, convicted or acquitted. A disposition hearing in juvenile court decides what happens to a young person after a finding.
- Disposition of property: in wills and trusts, it means how assets will be distributed, sold or given away.
- Disposition of assets: in tax and accounting, it is the sale, transfer or other disposal of an asset, such as shares or a building, which can create a taxable gain or loss. Our business and money section explains related terms.
Example sentences across the senses
- Our new puppy has a sweet disposition and greets every visitor with a wagging tail.
- Despite a cheerful disposition, he found the move to a new city lonely at first.
- Some people have a disposition toward motion sickness, so they sit near the front of the bus.
- The court record lists the disposition of the case as "dismissed".
- Her will sets out the disposition of the family house and savings.
- The office manager planned the disposition of desks to keep teams close together.
Disposition, disposal and demeanor
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Disposition | Inner temperament, or a formal settlement | a patient disposition |
| Disposal | Getting rid of something; also availability | waste disposal; at your disposal |
| Demeanor | Outward behaviour and manner | a calm demeanor in the interview |
| Temperament | Inborn emotional style | an artistic temperament |
A useful rule: disposition is what you are like inside; demeanor is how you come across outside. Someone can have an anxious disposition but keep a steady demeanor. Note also that "at your disposal" is the standard modern phrase for "available to you"; "at your disposition" sounds old fashioned in English.
Where the word comes from
Disposition came to medieval English through Old French; behind that lies Latin dispositio, "an arrangement". The Latin verb disponere means "to set in different places" or "to put in order", from dis, "apart", and ponere, "to place". The same root gives dispose, position and deposit. The sense of a person's temperament was already in use in Middle English, alongside the older idea of arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
What is the definition of disposition when describing a person?
It is their usual temperament. A good disposition means a person is naturally pleasant, kind and even tempered most of the time. Employers and teachers often value it because such people handle stress and other people well.
What is the difference between disposition and personality?
Personality is the whole pattern of how someone thinks, feels and acts. Disposition usually points to one part of it, the person's typical mood or emotional tendency.
What does disposition mean in a court case?
It is the final outcome, such as dismissal, conviction, acquittal or settlement. Court records often have a disposition date showing when the case was resolved.
What does disposition of assets mean?
It means selling, giving away or otherwise transferring assets. In tax rules, a disposition can trigger a capital gain or loss, so the timing and price matter.
How do you pronounce disposition?
Say dis-puh-ZISH-uhn. ZISH, the third beat, is the loud one.
Can animals have a disposition?
Yes. Breeders, vets and pet owners often describe an animal's disposition, such as a dog with a gentle or nervous disposition.