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velleity

/vəˈliɪti/
IPA guide

Other forms: velleities

A velleity is a wish you have — a wish that you aren't working to make come true. If you have a velleity to run a marathon, the marathon sounds like a good idea — but you probably aren't going to start training.

The word velleity comes from the Latin word velle, "to wish or to will." A mild impulse to do something, unaccompanied by any real motivation to follow through, can be called a velleity. If you dream of going on safari in Africa, but you never even look into how much it costs, that dream was just a velleity. Your dream of speaking fluent Spanish is a velleity if you never get around to opening your textbook.

Definitions of velleity
  1. noun
    a mere wish, unaccompanied by effort to obtain
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    type of:
    want, wish, wishing
    a specific feeling of desire
  2. noun
    volition in its weakest form
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    type of:
    volition, will
    the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘velleity'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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