intentionality

[in-ten-shuh-nal-i-tee]

noun

1. the fact or quality of being done on purpose or with intent.

   The author’s choice here may not have been intentionally racially charged, but discrimination and prejudice are often not rooted in intentionality.

2. an attitude of purposefulness, with a commitment to deliberate action.

   “Active hope” is a practice that does not require optimism; instead, it requires intentionality.

3. Metaphysics.

   1. the capacity of the mind to refer to an existent or nonexistent object.

      The mind has intentionality as it is directed toward something it affirms, desires, loves, or hates; but the something is not necessarily real.

   2. (said of consciousness or a sign) the fact or property of pointing beyond itself.

      We relate to the world through intentionality—the capacity of consciousness to be about states of affairs outside itself.

Word History and Origins

Origin of intentionality¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Medieval Latin intentiōnālitās, equivalent to intentional ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

But this June, the antagonism was ratcheted up, after the teams combined for 11 hit batters — and not-so-veiled accusations of intentionality — over seven games played in a 11-day stretch.

From Los Angeles Times

“What Rainmaker is trying to do is bring some intentionality to that, so that we can modify the weather for our benefit and deliberately.”

From Los Angeles Times

When someone serves you a chilled dish, you know intentionality went into it.

From Salon

And then I suppose where it gets really interesting is where intentionality leaves the room.

From Salon

"These aspects of ourselves are more like habits and with intentionality, we can actually experience a surprising amount of change."

From Salon