Levity: meaning, definitions and examples

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levity

 

[ ˈlɛvɪti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

sense of humor

The quality of being amusing or light-hearted, especially in a serious or difficult situation. Levity is often associated with a sense of humor and the ability to make others laugh.

Synonyms

humor, lightheartedness, playfulness

Examples of usage

  • She brought levity to the meeting with her jokes.
  • His levity helped ease the tension in the room.
Context #2 | Noun

lack of seriousness

A lack of seriousness or earnestness, especially when inappropriate. Levity can sometimes be seen as a lack of respect or sensitivity.

Synonyms

carelessness, flippancy, frivolity

Examples of usage

  • His levity during the funeral offended some of the attendees.
  • The team's levity about the project deadlines was concerning.
Context #3 | Noun

flightiness

The quality of being easily changeable or not reliable, often in a fickle or flighty manner. Levity in this sense can refer to a lack of stability or seriousness.

Synonyms

fickleness, inconstancy, unreliability

Examples of usage

  • Her levity in relationships made it hard for others to trust her.
  • The levity of the stock market can be unsettling for investors.

Translations

Translations of the word "levity" in other languages:

🇵🇹 levidade

🇮🇳 हल्कापन

🇩🇪 Leichtigkeit

🇮🇩 keceriaan

🇺🇦 легкість

🇵🇱 lekkość

🇯🇵 軽さ

🇫🇷 légèreté

🇪🇸 ligereza

🇹🇷 hafiflik

🇰🇷 가벼움

🇸🇦 خفة

🇨🇿 lehkovážnost

🇸🇰 ľahkosť

🇨🇳 轻率

🇸🇮 lahkotnost

🇮🇸 léttleiki

🇰🇿 жеңілдік

🇬🇪 მსუბუქობა

🇦🇿 yüngüllük

🇲🇽 ligereza

Etymology

The word 'levity' originated from the Latin word 'levitas', meaning lightness or frivolity. It has evolved over time to encompass various meanings related to humor, lack of seriousness, and flightiness. The concept of levity has been explored in literature, psychology, and philosophy, highlighting its complex nature in human behavior and interactions.

See also: lev, level, lever, levy.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,396, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.