different between activity vs instrumentality

English

Etymology

From Middle French activité, from Latin activitas. Equivalent to active +? -ity.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /æk?t?.v?.ti/, /æk?t?.v?.ti?/, /æk?t?.v?.ti/
• Rhymes: -?v?ti

Noun

activity (countable and uncountable, plural activities)

1. (uncountable) The state or quality of being active; activeness.

2. (countable) Something done as an action or a movement.

3. (countable) Something done for pleasure or entertainment, especially one involving movement or an excursion.

4. (grammar, semantics) The lexical aspect (aktionsart) of verbs or predicates that change over time and have no natural end point.

Usage notes

• Adjectives often used with "activity": increased, decreased, high, low, volcanic, seismic, eruptive, intellectual, physical, mental, spiritual, muscular, cerebral, favorite, recreational, practical, cultural, artistic, literary, musical, political, diplomatic, military, domestic, voluntary, missionary, chemical, optical, productive, reproductive, industrial, commercial, etc.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:activity

Antonyms

• rest
• passivity

Derived terms

• activity book
• activity stream
• activity trap
• beehive of activity
• catalytic activity
• extravehicular activity
• hive of activity
• nonactivity
• optical activity
• overactivity
• radioactivity
• self-activity
• subactivity
• ultrahazardous activity
• underactivity
• zone of polarizing activity

Translations

Further reading

• activity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• activity in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

instrumental +? -ity

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?nst??m?n?tal?ti/

Noun

instrumentality (countable and uncountable, plural instrumentalities)

1. (uncountable) The quality or condition of being instrumental; serving a purpose, being useful.
   • 1902, William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Folio Society 2008, p. 294:

     In a later vision the Saviour revealed to her in detail the ‘great design’ which he wished to establish through her instrumentality.

2. (countable, law) A governmental organ with a specific purpose.
   • 1994, Title 17 of the United States Code, §104A(a)(2):

     Any work in which the copyright was ever owned or administered by the Alien Property Custodian and in which the restored copyright would be owned by a government or instrumentality thereof, is not a restored work.

3. (countable) Something that is instrumental; an instrument.