Meaning & use

velleity

noun·Academic

Last updated

a mere wish or inclination for something, too slight to lead to any actual action or effort.

See it in a sentence

His interest in learning the piano remained a velleity that never turned into practice.

The committee's plan to reform the tax code was little more than a velleity.

A note on using this word

Derived from Latin 'velle' (to wish), velleity describes desire at its weakest, distinguished philosophically from genuine volition or will.

Words with a similar meaning

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