spontaneity
nounUK /ˈspɒn.tə.neɪ.ə.ti/
Etymology From Latin spontaneus (“voluntary”). By surface analysis, spont(aneous) + -aneity. Compare French spontanéité.
1
The quality of being spontaneous.
- In any case, they are not very big on spontaneity. They sit on him for a few minutes before they decide what to do next.1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 400:
- The unpredictability of Gemini was then contrasted with examples of human spontaneity, like the splatter technique of Jackson Pollock.2025 January 30, Tessa Solomon, “AI Art Lacking ‘Human Expression’ Cannot Be Copyrighted, US Officials Say”, in ARTnews:
2
Spontaneous behaviour.
- Romney Leigh, who lives by diagrams, / And crosses out the spontaneities / Of all his individual, personal life / With formal universals.1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Third Book”, in Aurora Leigh, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1857, →OCLC:
3
Biology, Natural sciences The tendency to undergo change, characteristic of both animal and vegetable organisms, and not restrained or checked by the environment.
4
Biology, Natural sciences The tendency to activity of muscular tissue, including the voluntary muscles, when in a state of healthful vigour and refreshment.
- Synonyms
- abruptness, spontaneousness
- Antonyms
- discipline
- Derived terms
- aspontaneity, unspontaneity
- Related terms
- spontaneous