Definition

Noun: 1. A manner or attitude lacking seriousness, especially when it is inappropriate: The quality of treating serious matters with humor or frivolity, or of not showing proper respect or thoughtfulness. 2. A feeling of inappropriate lack of seriousness: A lighthearted or carefree feeling that is considered unsuitable for the situation.

Usage

• Levity is an uncountable noun. It describes a or , not a specific action.
• It is often used in formal or critical contexts to point out that someone's behavior is not serious enough.
• Common collocations include: , , , .

Examples

• The speaker's attempt at levity during the solemn memorial service was met with silence.
• A little levity can sometimes help to ease tension in a difficult meeting.
• His constant levity in the face of the crisis frustrated his colleagues, who felt he wasn't taking things seriously.

Advanced Usage

• "Moment of levity": A brief period of humor or lightheartedness within a generally serious context.
  • The tense negotiations were broken by a brief moment of levity when someone told a joke.
• "To inject/add a note of levity": To deliberately introduce humor or a lighter tone.
  • She added a note of levity to her speech with a funny anecdote.

Variants and Related Words

• Levitate (verb): To rise or float in the air, especially by supernatural means. (Note: This is a different word with a different meaning, but it shares the same Latin root , meaning "light.")
• Lightheartedness (noun): Cheerfulness or lack of seriousness, typically without the negative connotation of inappropriateness that "levity" often carries.

Synonyms

• Frivolity
• Flippancy
• Lightheartedness (context-dependent)
• Flippant attitude

Antonyms

• Gravity
• Seriousness
• Solemnity
• Sobriety

Noun

1. a manner lacking seriousness
2. feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness