English · Word Candidate

spontaneous

/spɒnˈteɪ.ni.əs/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Self-directed; happening or acting without external cause or instigation; proceeding from natural feeling, temperament, or momentary impulse.

Adjective

Examples

He made a spontaneous offer of help.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Done by one's own free choice, or without planning.

Adjective

Examples

YSL, as he is often called, is equally capable of casual, aristocratic cruelty and earthy, spontaneous tenderness, and when you study his face it can be hard to distinguish boredom from rapture.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “spontaneous” mean?

Self-directed; happening or acting without external cause or instigation; proceeding from natural feeling, temperament, or momentary impulse.

Is “spontaneous” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.