spontaneous

[ spon-tey-nee-uhs ]

adjective

1. coming or resulting from a natural impulse or tendency; without effort or premeditation; natural and unconstrained; unplanned:

   a spontaneous burst of applause.

   Synonyms: unpremeditated, free

   Antonyms: premeditated

2. (of a person) given to acting upon sudden impulses.
3. (of natural phenomena) arising from internal forces or causes; independent of external agencies; self-acting.
4. growing naturally or without cultivation, as plants and fruits; indigenous.
5. produced by natural process.

spontaneous

/ spɒnˈteɪnɪəs /

adjective

1. occurring, produced, or performed through natural processes without external influence

   spontaneous movement

2. arising from an unforced personal impulse; voluntary; unpremeditated

   a spontaneous comment

3. (of plants) growing naturally; indigenous

Derived Forms

• sponˈtaneousness, noun
• sponˈtaneously, adverb

Other Words From

• spon·ta·ne·ous·ly adverb
• spon·ta·ne·ous·ness noun
• non·spon·ta·ne·ous adjective
• non·spon·ta·ne·ous·ness noun
• sem·i·spon·ta·ne·ous adjective
• sem·i·spon·ta·ne·ous·ness noun
• sub·spon·ta·ne·ous adjective
• sub·spon·ta·ne·ous·ness noun
• un·spon·ta·ne·ous adjective
• un·spon·ta·ne·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spontaneous¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Late Latin spontāneus, equivalent to Latin spont(e) “willingly” + -āneus ( -ān(us) -an + -eus -eous )

Word History and Origins

Origin of spontaneous¹

C17: from Late Latin spontāneus, from Latin sponte voluntarily

Synonym Study

See automatic, voluntary.

Related Words

• casual
• impromptu
• instinctive
• offhand
• simple
• unplanned
• voluntary