adjective

prone

prone, liable, lying face down

He is prone to making mistakes.

He is prone to making mistakes.

She was lying in a prone position.

She was lying in a prone position.

be prone ((to sth. / to -ing)) to be likely to suffer from or do something This car is prone to overheating.

be in a prone position to be lying flat with the face downwards The patient was in a prone position.

Synonyms: susceptible, liable; Antonyms: immune, resistant (for tendency); supine (for position)

From Latin 'pronus' meaning 'bent forward, leaning'.

'Prone to...' sounds like you are leaning 'forward' (pro-) into a certain action. For the physical meaning, imagine someone lying 'pro'strate on the ground.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.