spontaneity

American  

[spon-tuh-nee-i-tee, -ney-] / ˌspɒn təˈni ɪ ti, -ˈneɪ- /

noun

spontaneities plural

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

2. spontaneous activity.

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

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spontaneity British  

/ -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

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• spontaneities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of spontaneity

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

Explanation

Acting with spontaneity might mean bursting into song on the street, or throwing down your rake and jumping in a pile of leaves — in other words, doing something without thinking it through beforehand. The noun spontaneity is related to a more common word, the adjective spontaneous. The writer Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Our spontaneous action is always the best. You cannot, with your best deliberation and heed, come so close to any question as your spontaneous glance shall bring you.” He meant that if we learn to trust our instincts instead of weighing the potential consequences of everything we do, we'll make better decisions.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spontaneity spontaneities

But the spontaneity that charmed tourists and supported street vendors in Vietnam's capital has subsided in recent months as authorities clamp down on illegal use of footpaths.

From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026

Amid all those preoccupations for his physical performance, Ortiz also had to deliver his lines and be present in the moment, reacting to Gosling with spontaneity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2026

“There’s a little bit of spontaneity and the unknown,” her mom says of not knowing who’s calling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026

Of those asked, 90% disagreed that the introduction of the technology in the Premier League has improved the matchday experience, and 91% believe VAR has harmed the spontaneity of goal celebrations.

From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026

What Reilly and his team at Cook County were trying to do, in short, was provide some structure for the spontaneity of the ER.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Likewise, some chemical reactions can also exhibit temperature dependent spontaneities.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

When it comes to being filled, this should be with nothing but your – or you and your colleagues' – own, individual needs, desires, hunches, improvisations, spontaneities.

From The Guardian ● May 25, 2012

Was it hard work picking out her undiplomatic spontaneities?

From Time Magazine Archive

From the perspective of the late '60s, the old rebellions and spontaneities seem as touchingly quaint as the shock they elicited at the time.

From Time Magazine Archive

He looked startled and in fact my question rather startled me; kemmer brings out these spontaneities in one.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin