activity

[ak-tiv-i-tee]

noun

plural

activities 

1. the state or quality of being active.

   There was not much activity in the stock market today. He doesn't have enough physical activity in his life.

2. a specific deed, action, function, or sphere of action.

   social activities.

3. work, especially in elementary grades at school, that involves direct experience by the student rather than textbook study.

4. energetic activity; animation; liveliness.

5. a use of energy or force; an active movement or operation.

6. normal mental or bodily power, function, or process.

7. Physical Chemistry.,  the capacity of a substance to react, corrected for the loss of reactivity due to the interaction of its constituents.

8. Physics.

   1. the number of atoms of a radioactive substance that disintegrate per unit of time, usually expressed in curies.

   2. radioactivity.

9. an organizational unit or the function it performs.

activity

/ ækˈtɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being active

2. lively action or movement

3. any specific deed, action, pursuit, etc

   recreational activities

4. the number of disintegrations of a radioactive substance in a given unit of time, usually expressed in curies or disintegrations per second

5. 1. the capacity of a substance to undergo chemical change

   2. the effective concentration of a substance in a chemical system. The absolute activity of a substance B, λ B , is defined as exp (μ B RT ) where μ B is the chemical potential

Other Word Forms

• nonactivity noun
• preactivity noun
• superactivity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of activity¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Middle French or directly from Medieval Latin āctīvitās; active, -ity

Example Sentences

U.S. factory activity slipped at a faster pace than expected in November, as businesses continue to face a hit from higher tariffs, according to a survey of manufacturing firms.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A year ago, a team of about 100 officers was launched in four regional hubs, scaling up its activity after the end of the public phase of the inquiry into the scandal.

Read more on BBC

Government authorities have stepped in with official relief measures and sanctioned mourning activities, such as flying flags at half-staff and the establishment of designated condolence sites.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As well as 700 holiday lodges, the development would feature newly-created lochs, nature trails and a woodland, as well as an indoor swimming complex, a health spa, outdoor activities, shops and restaurants.

Read more on BBC

First of all, leaders would have control and knowledge of the legislative agenda, not to mention influence on regulatory activity and federal procurement.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• act 
• endeavor 
• enterprise 
• job 
• project 
• scheme 
• task 
• venture 
• work