tendance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal/Academic/Technical
Quick answer
What does “tendance” mean?
The general direction in which something is developing or changing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The general direction in which something is developing or changing; a statistical trend.
A prevailing tendency or inclination within a group or society; in computing, a pattern in data over time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use 'trend' far more frequently. 'Tendance' is rare in both but slightly more likely in British academic or historical texts.
Connotations
Archaic or highly formal in general use; modern technical term in data analysis.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency in contemporary English; considered a French borrowing.
Grammar
How to Use “tendance” in a Sentence
show a tendance to + INFobserve a tendance in + NPidentify a tendance toward(s) + NPVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in market analysis reports to describe long-term movements in data.
Academic
Found in sociological or historical texts discussing shifts in public opinion or behaviour.
Everyday
Virtually never used; 'trend' is the universal choice.
Technical
Employed in data science and statistics, though 'trend' remains dominant.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tendance”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tendance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tendance”
- Using 'tendance' in casual speech instead of 'trend'.
- Misspelling as 'tendence'.
- Overusing based on familiarity with the French word.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and formal. The word 'trend' is used in almost all contexts where 'tendance' might be considered.
It's not recommended. Using the common word 'trend' accurately is better than using a rare synonym incorrectly. Examiners value clarity over obscure vocabulary.
Meaning is very similar, but 'trend' is the standard, high-frequency word. 'Tendance' is a low-frequency, formal/technical synonym with a slight emphasis on the directional aspect of change.
It is a borrowing from French 'tendance' (trend), which itself derives from Latin 'tendere' (to stretch, to tend).
The general direction in which something is developing or changing.
Tendance is usually formal/academic/technical in register.
Tendance: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɛndəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɛndəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “buck the tendance”
- “go against the tendance”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TENDency' but with an 'A' for 'Analysis' - it's about analysing which way things TEND to go.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE IS DIRECTION (e.g., 'an upward tendance', 'a tendance towards decentralization').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'tendance' MOST appropriately used?