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gravitas

American  
[grav-i-tahs, ‑-tas] / ˈgræv ɪˌtɑs, ‑ˌtæs /

noun

  1. seriousness or sobriety, as of conduct or speech.

gravitas British  
/ ˈɡrævɪˌtæs /

noun

  1. seriousness, solemnity, or importance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gravitas

First recorded in 1920–25; from Latin gravitās; gravity

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.

Decisioning: It’s a pointless invention to give gravitas to the notion that action or choices should follow.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

You seemed to suggest that gravitas at some level is important.

From Slate • Feb. 13, 2026

But the mascots and these artistic figures bring a lighter, more playful energy to Games branding, but they served a different purpose: accessibility and universal appeal rather than historical gravitas.

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2026

"We were told that, as they get older, men in the media are portrayed gaining gravitas and wisdom associated with authority," it stated.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

Beowulf was the sort of artist who liked to put a bit of gravitas in his work, but he knew that a painting for a baby’s room ought not to cause bad dreams, either.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

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.