severity

noun

se·​ver·​i·​ty sə-ˈver-ə-tē How to pronounce severity (audio)
: the quality or state of being severe : the condition of being very bad, serious, unpleasant, or harsh
the severity of the climate
the severity of the punishment
Medication can help shorten the illness and lessen its severity.
To make all coastal residents more aware of the severity of the cyclone hazard, and to increase faith and trust in evacuation orders, the emergency personnel must educate them about the benefits of taking refuge in public shelters prior to an approaching cyclone.Bimal Kanti Paul
A dog, like a human, is prone to two broadly defined types of bone fracture—open and closed. Within each category, breaks of varying severity may occur.Tom Ewing

Examples of severity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In our view, these measures do not give enough weight to preventing all types of entanglements, regardless of severity. Joshua Reed, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2024 Wildfires are expected to increase in frequency and severity. Quentin Septer, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 The duration of healing depends on the severity of the windburn. Madison Yauger, Health, 10 Mar. 2024 Your dose of lactase supplements may depend on the severity of your lactose intolerance symptoms, your dairy intake, and the brand of supplement. Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2024 Its severity was due to a perfect storm of environmental factors: highly flammable grasses and strong winds combined with record-high temperatures and dry conditions — the kind of extreme weather often exacerbated by climate change. Laura Paddison, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 The severity of the crash prompted City of Miami Fire, U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to also respond to the scene. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 But many people may not be aware of its symptoms or severity, according to doctors who treat measles patients. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is shortening its quarantine guidelines for COVID-19, a decision based on the reduced severity of the disease and the population's improved immunity, the federal health agency announced Friday. Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'severity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of severity was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near severity

Cite this Entry

“Severity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/severity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

severity

noun
se·​ver·​i·​ty
sə-ˈver-ət-ē
plural severities
: the quality or state of being severe

More from Merriam-Webster on severity

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