Disposition  /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/  noun

  • 1 [count] : the usual attitude or mood of a person or animal

    • He always had a cheerful/nervous disposition. [=temperamentpersonality]
    • It’s nice to work with someone who has such a sunny disposition. [=who is usually cheerful]
    • a dog with an excellent disposition

    2 formal

    a [singular] : a tendency to act or think in a particular way

    • Her disposition was to always think negatively.
    • He has a disposition toward criminal behavior.

    b [count] : a tendency to develop a disease, condition, etc.

    • people with a genetic disposition toward a particular disease

    3 formal : the act or power of officially or legally giving land, possessions, etc., to someone

    [count]

    • the philanthropist’s charitable dispositions [=(less formally) donations]

    [noncount]

    • A will is a legal document that is used in the disposition of property.

    4 [count] formal : the way things are placed or arranged — usually singular — often + of

    • The map showed the disposition of troops on the border.