extemporaneous

American  

[ik-stem-puh-rey-nee-uhs] / ɪkˌstɛm pəˈreɪ ni əs /

adjective

1. done, spoken, performed, etc., without special advance preparation; impromptu.

   an extemporaneous speech.

2. previously planned but delivered with the help of few or no notes.

   extemporaneous lectures.

3. speaking or performing with little or no advance preparation.

   extemporaneous actors.

4. made for the occasion, as a shelter.

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extemporaneous British  

/ ɪkˌstɛmpəˈreɪnɪəs, ɪkˈstɛmpərərɪ, -prərɪ /

adjective

1. spoken, performed, etc, without planning or preparation; impromptu; extempore

2. done in a temporary manner; improvised

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Related Words

Extemporaneous, extempore, impromptu, improvised are used of expression given without preparation or only partial preparation. Extemporaneous and impromptu may both refer to speeches given without any preparation: an extemporaneous (impromptu) speech. Extemporaneous may also refer to a speech given from notes or an outline: extemporaneous lectures. Although extempore is an adjective with the very same meaning as extemporaneous, this word is most often used in its adverbial senses: She spoke extempore, and had the audience's rapt attention. Impromptu also refers to poems, songs, etc., delivered without preparation and at a moment's notice. Improvised is applied to something composed (recited, sung, acted), at least in part, as one goes along: an improvised piano accompaniment.

Other Word Forms

• extemporaneity
  noun
• extemporaneously
  adverb
• extemporaneousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of extemporaneous

First recorded in 1650–60, from Late Latin extemporāneus “on the spur of the moment”; see extempore, -an, -eous

Explanation

Extemporaneous means spoken without preparation. The orator's performance was impressive, but we did not realize the depth of his talent until we learned that his speech was extemporaneous. Some politicians are so skilled that even their prepared remarks have an extemporaneous quality. As opposed to policy debates where teams know the resolution in advance, extemporaneous debates are judged on style and nimble argumentation, as the participants receive the resolution minutes before debating begins. Extemporaneous comes from the Latin phrase ex tempore, literally meaning "out of time." The words in this family (extemporary, extemporaneously, extemporize, etc.) almost always refer to speaking or composing something on the spot — without time or enough preparation.

Example Sentences

No one else will experience that extemporaneous moment like the woman in that particular seat.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

Hochul, a Democrat, made the extemporaneous comment Monday while being interviewed at a large business conference in California to discuss expanding economic opportunities in artificial intelligence for low-income communities.

From Seattle Times • May 7, 2024

Like most of his comedy, the opening riff was extemporaneous.

From Salon • Feb. 29, 2024

“We love y’all. We want you to get it right,” he said, in brash and seemingly extemporaneous remarks.

From New York Times • Feb. 5, 2024

When we reached the end of our sloppy, extemporaneous dance I started to perform a ridiculous curtsy that felt appropriate to the pantomime we’d been doing, but Luc held out his hand again.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse