spontaneity

noun

spon·​ta·​ne·​i·​ty ˌspän-tə-ˈnē-ə-tē  -ˈnā- 

1

: the quality or state of being spontaneous

2

: voluntary or undetermined action or movement

also : its source

Synonyms

• abandon
• abandonment
• ease
• lightheartedness
• naturalness
• spontaneousness
• unconstraint
• uninhibitedness
• unrestraint

Examples of spontaneity in a Sentence

the spontaneity of their behavior

the couple sacrificed some of the spontaneity in their lives when they both got nine-to-five jobs

Recent Examples on the Web

When Shady Rays realized that its Gen Z consumers were exhibiting buying spontaneity, their marketing team upgraded to a more seamless digital and retail shopping interface. —Jeff Fromm, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Here’s to more spontaneity and adventure in your day-to-day life, Cancer. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024

Moreover, the other prime aspects of these musical scenes, from their orchestral or big-band backing to the glossy pomp of their filming, counteract the spontaneity, the intimacy, the subjectivity, and the immediacy that the vocal performances are designed to convey. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024

Margaret, bound by her royal duties, longs for more spontaneity; Stacy wouldn’t mind being a fancy royal for a day or so. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin spontāneitāt-, spontāneitās, from Late Latin spontāneus "voluntary, unconstrained, spontaneous" + Latin -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

spontaneity

noun

spon·​ta·​ne·​ity

ˌspänt-ən-ˈē-ət-ē,

ˌspänt-ᵊn-,

-ˈā-ət-

: the quality or state of being spontaneous