avidity
LowFormal, literary, technical (in specific sciences)
Definition
Meaning
Extreme eagerness, enthusiasm, or keen interest; a strong desire or appetite for something.
In scientific contexts (e.g., biochemistry), it can denote the combined strength of multiple binding interactions between a molecule and its target.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Carries connotations of intense, sometimes even greedy, desire or craving. Implies a greater degree of intensity than simple 'eagerness'. The scientific use is a precise technical term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in formal British literary contexts.
Connotations
Consistently formal, somewhat old-fashioned, or technical.
Frequency
Very low in everyday speech in both variants. Its use is primarily confined to formal writing or specific technical fields.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + with + avidity[Noun] + of + avidityAvidity + for + [noun]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A mind of great avidity (literary).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in a formal report describing 'investor avidity for new tech stocks'.
Academic
Used in literary criticism or history (e.g., 'the avidity of 19th-century readers for serialised novels'). Common in biochemistry for 'antibody avidity'.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound overly formal.
Technical
A standard term in immunology and biochemistry, referring to the strength of an interaction (e.g., 'the multivalent binding increases the antibody's avidity').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He avidly pursued his research.
American English
- She avidly follows the stock market.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She read the book with great interest.
- The children listened to the story with great eagerness.
- The young scholar approached the ancient texts with an avidity that impressed his professors.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of AVID (very eager) + ITY (the state of being). 'Avidity' is the state of being avid.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESIRE IS HUNGER (e.g., 'devoured the book with avidity').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'avidnost'' (greed) in all contexts. While overlapping, 'avidity' is more about intense eagerness than material greed.
- The scientific term is a false friend; its Russian equivalent 'avidnost'' is a direct loanword with the same technical meaning, but the everyday meanings differ.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'avidity' (confusion with 'avidity' of a computer file).
- Using it in casual conversation where 'eagerness' or 'enthusiasm' would be more natural.
- Mispronouncing the first vowel as /eɪ/ (as in 'avid') instead of /ə/.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'avidity' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Avidity' implies a more intense, sometimes almost insatiable or greedy level of desire. 'Eagerness' is more common and neutral.
No, it is a low-frequency word used primarily in formal, literary, or specific scientific contexts.
Yes, it can imply a grasping, over-eager, or greedy quality, not just simple enthusiasm.
'Avidity' is the noun form of the adjective 'avid'. 'Avid' means having or showing a keen interest or enthusiasm.