motivity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Technical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “motivity” mean?
The power or faculty of initiating motion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The power or faculty of initiating motion; the capacity for movement or for causing movement.
In philosophical or psychological contexts, it can refer to the inherent capacity for active, purposive change or the driving force behind agency and volition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant dialectal differences in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Elicits connotations of formal, academic, or older philosophical texts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects. More likely encountered in specialized academic writing than in any form of common speech.
Grammar
How to Use “motivity” in a Sentence
the motivity of [abstract noun, e.g., the will, the mind][possessive pronoun] motivityinherent in [noun phrase] is its motivityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “motivity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No common verb form. The related verb is 'motivate'.)
American English
- (No common verb form. The related verb is 'motivate'.)
adverb
British English
- (No direct adverbial form. Related: 'The mechanism functioned motivelessly.')
American English
- (No direct adverbial form. Related: 'He acted motivelessly, which puzzled detectives.')
adjective
British English
- The motive power of the steam engine was revolutionary.
- He studied the motive forces in history.
American English
- The motive force behind the project was her vision.
- They analyzed the motive principles of the machine.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used sparingly in philosophy (especially of mind or action), psychology, and theoretical biology to discuss the faculty of initiating movement or action.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation. Would be considered obscure.
Technical
Possible use in robotics or AI theory when discussing the fundamental capacity for self-generated movement or action.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “motivity”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “motivity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “motivity”
- Using 'motivity' to mean 'motivation' (e.g., 'His motivity for working hard was money' is incorrect).
- Attempting to use it in casual contexts where 'movement', 'drive', or 'initiative' would be appropriate.
- Pronouncing it as /ˈməʊtɪvɪti/ (stress on first syllable) instead of the correct /məʊˈtɪvɪti/ (stress on second syllable).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Motivation' refers to the reasons, desires, or psychological drives that cause someone to act. 'Motivity' is a more abstract and rare term for the fundamental power or capacity to initiate motion or action itself, often considered as a faculty.
No, it is extremely rare and formal. Most native speakers would not know or use this word. 'Motivation', 'drive', 'capacity for movement', or 'motive force' are common alternatives.
It could be used in a very technical or philosophical discussion about the nature of a machine's capacity for self-generated action, but it is not standard engineering terminology. 'Propulsion', 'actuation', or 'kinetics' are more likely.
It is exclusively a noun. There is no commonly used verb 'to motive' from it. The related common adjective is 'motive' (as in 'motive power'), and the common verb is 'motivate'.
The power or faculty of initiating motion.
Motivity is usually formal, technical, literary in register.
Motivity: in British English it is pronounced /məʊˈtɪvɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /moʊˈtɪvɪti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The motivity of the will (archaic philosophical phrase)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'MOTOR' + 'ACTIVITY' = MOTIVITY, the inner 'motor' that makes activity possible.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOTIVITY IS A PRIMAL ENGINE. (e.g., 'The motivity of life itself').
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'motivity' MOST appropriately used?