expressivity

[ ek-spre-siv-i-tee ]

noun

1. the quality or state of being expressive.
2. Genetics. the degree to which a particular gene produces its effect in an organism.

expressivity

/ ˌɛksprɛˈsɪvɪtɪ /

noun

1. (esp of a work of art) the quality of being expressive
2. genetics the strength of the effect of a gene on the phenotype

Word History and Origins

Origin of expressivity¹

From the German word Expressivität, dating back to 1930–35. See expressive, -ity

Example Sentences

But after seeing Teague’s physicality and facial expressivity in an audition tape, he said, he knew they had found Noa.

From New York Times

McKenna-Bruce conveys the character’s vulnerabilities with graceful expressivity; she’s also shorter than the other main performers, which makes Tara look younger than her friends and worryingly defenseless; as the story continues, though, she also starts to seem like a sacrificial lamb.

From New York Times

He dominates not by having the loudest voice onstage but by the far great power of expressivity.

From Los Angeles Times

Escaich wrote cadenzas to link the three movements into a continuous form, and Capuçon emphasized their atmospheric expressivity as opposed to their show-pony virtuosity.

From New York Times

For some critics, the “Lulu” experience seemed to draw out a Bergian expressivity in Mr. Cerha’s style, and some of his later works — “Nacht” for orchestra, say, or his “8 Sätze nach Hölderlin-Fragmenten” for string sextet — indeed have a familiar, muted lyricism to them, though others do not.

From New York Times