levity

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈlɛvɪti/ UK /ˈlɛ.vɪ.ti/ See IPA manual

Freq #37788

Meanings

1

noun
The state or quality of being light, buoyancy.

Most of the confidences were unsought - frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation or a hostile levity […].
2

noun
A lighthearted or frivolous act.

For though it be something wonderful to tell that any should have hearts so hardened, in the midst of such a calamity, as to rob and steal, yet certain it is that all sorts of villainies, and even levities and debaucheries, were then practiced in the town as openly as ever: I will not say quite as frequently, because the number of people were many ways lessened.
3

noun
a manner lacking seriousness
4

noun
feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness

Thesaurus

Opposites

gravity

Word family

Derived forms levitous

Simplified etymology

Levity is recorded from the mid-16th century and belongs to the word family based on Latin levis, meaning “light.”

Etymology

Coined in 1564, from Latin levitās (“lightness, frivolity”), from levis (“lightness (in weight)”). Cognate to lever, and more distantly, light.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# levity

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈlɛvɪti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈlɛ.vɪ.ti/
**Frequency rank:** 37788

## Meanings
1. The state or quality of being light, buoyancy.
2. A lighthearted or frivolous act.
3. a manner lacking seriousness
4. feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness

## Examples
- Most of the confidences were unsought - frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation or a hostile levity […].
- For though it be something wonderful to tell that any should have hearts so hardened, in the midst of such a calamity, as to rob and steal, yet certain it is that all sorts of villainies, and even levities and debaucheries, were then practiced in the town as openly as ever: I will not say quite as frequently, because the number of people were many ways lessened.

## Antonyms
- gravity

## Derived Forms
- levitous

## Etymology
Coined in 1564, from Latin levitās (“lightness, frivolity”), from levis (“lightness (in weight)”). Cognate to lever, and more distantly, light.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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