lightness
1 Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being light in weight.
the amazing lightness of the new metal.
-
the quality of being agile, nimble, or graceful.
- Synonyms:
- sprightliness, nimbleness, grace, agility
-
lack of pressure or burdensomeness.
-
lack of seriousness; levity in actions, thoughts, or speech.
That kind of lightness seemed out of place.
-
gaiety of manner, speech, style, etc.; cheerfulness.
His lightness was just what the party needed.
noun
Etymology
Origin of lightness1
1175–1225; Middle English. See light 2, -ness
Origin of lightness2
before 1050; Middle English; Old English līhtness. See light 1, -ness
Vocabulary lists containing lightness
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The lightness was forced, and the joy was a lie,” she tells him.
From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026
"The series is a lovely blend of lightness and comedy, with some genuinely moving and poignant moments".
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026
Roxana Bujack, a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, led a team that applied geometry to precisely describe how we experience hue, saturation and lightness.
From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026
Alexander’s production of “Sweeney Todd” has breadth and heft, but also intimacy and lightness.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026
Brightness in the air and lightness in my heart.
From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.