The act of creating or performing something without preparation, using only what is available at the moment.
From French and Italian 'improvvisazione', based on Latin 'improvisus' meaning 'unforeseen'. The root 'videre' (to see) is in there, with 'im-' meaning 'not', so it’s something you didn’t see coming.
Improvisation isn’t just ‘winging it’; it’s skilled reacting to the unexpected. Jazz, comedy, and even good teaching often rely on this ability to build something real out of surprises.
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