declivity
noun
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What is the Difference Between declivity and acclivity?
Three different English words descend from clivus, the Latin word for "slope" or "hill"—with the help of three Latin prefixes. Declivity combines clivus with the prefix de-, meaning "down" or "away." Acclivity uses ad- (which changes its second letter depending on the root word), meaning "to" or "toward." Hence, an acclivity is an upward slope. The third word has a figurative meaning in English: proclivity makes use of the prefix pro-, meaning "forward," and this word refers to a personal inclination, predisposition, or "leaning."
Examples of declivity in a Sentence
Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Declivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/declivity. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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declivity
noun
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