spontaneous
Self-directed; happening or acting without external cause or instigation; proceeding from natural feeling, temperament, or momentary impulse.
Example
“He made a spontaneous offer of help.”
Other meanings
Done by one's own free choice, or without planning.
Controlled and directed internally; self-active; spontaneous movement characteristic of living things.
Synonyms
- self-generated
Related words
- nonspontaneous
- semispontaneous
- spontaneousness
- subspontaneous
- unspontaneous
- spontaneity
- spontaneous human combustion
- spontaneous combustion
- spontaneous abortion
- spontaneous fission
- spontaneous generation
- spontaneous pneumothorax
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “spontaneous” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.