levity

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈlɛvɪti/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈlɛvɪti/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(lev′i tē)

Inflections of 'levity' (n): npl: levities

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
lev•i•ty /ˈlɛvɪti/USA pronunciation   n. [uncountable]
  1. lack of proper seriousness;
    frivolousness:The situation is too serious for levity.
See -lev-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
lev•i•ty  (lev′i tē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ties. 
  1. lightness of mind, character, or behavior;
    lack of appropriate seriousness or earnestness.
  2. an instance or exhibition of this.
  3. fickleness.
  4. lightness in weight.
  • Latin levitās lightness, frivolity, equivalent. to levi(s) light + -tās -ty2
  • 1555–65
    • 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged frivolity, flippancy, triviality, giddiness.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
levity / ˈlɛvɪtɪ/ ( -ties)
  1. inappropriate lack of seriousness
  2. fickleness or instability
  3. lightness in weight
Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin levitās lightness, from levis light
'levity' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
facetious - flippant - frivolity - frivolous - game - grave - legerity - lightness

Forum discussions with the word(s) "levity" in the title:


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