spontaneity

[spon-tuh-nee-i-tee, -ney-]

noun

plural

spontaneities 

1. the state, quality, or fact of being spontaneous.

2. spontaneous activity.

3. spontaneities, spontaneous impulses, movements, or actions.

spontaneity

/ -ˈneɪ-, ˌspɒntəˈniːɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being spontaneous

2. (often plural) the exhibiting of actions, impulses, or behaviour that are stimulated by internal processes

Word History and Origins

Origin of spontaneity¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Late Latin spontāne(us) spontaneous + -ity

Example Sentences

Pissarro soon gave up on pointillism, noting its conflict with the richness and spontaneity of Impressionism.

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“Much of the fun of making ’31 Minutos’ has to do with spontaneity,” says Díaz.

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That would mean doing something, and I would have lost the spontaneity of doing nothing.

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In an age of digital immediacy, film offers up these rare moments of unknowing, these chances for spontaneity.

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As Australian diplomat Walter Crocker observed, the breadth and spontaneity of his addresses were "without parallel".

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When To Use

What does spontaneity mean?

Spontaneity is the state or quality of being spontaneous—happening naturally and without being planned.When you describe an action or event as spontaneous, it means it happened naturally, without having been planned, as in The meeting turned into a spontaneous dance party. Spontaneity can also refer to this kind of spontaneous activity.When something that someone does is described as spontaneous, it means it was done out of a natural impulse, without having been thought about beforehandWhen spontaneous is used to describe a person, it means they have a tendency to or are known for doing things impulsively and without planning. This is usually used in a positive way to portray them as a fun person who is adventurous and willing to do things on the spur of the moment. Telling someone to be more spontaneous or introduce more spontaneity into their life means you want them to be more flexible and willing to do more things on a whim instead of needing for things to be completely structured or scheduled.Example: I feel stuck in a routine—I need more spontaneity in my life.