levity

noun lev·i·ty \ ˈle-və-tē \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of levity

1 : excessive or unseemly frivolity

She would tolerate no levity in the classroom.

2 : lack of steadiness : changeableness

the levity … of the brisk fire
—Charles Dickens

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Examples of levity in a Sentence

They managed to find some levity in the situation.
the teachers disapprove of any displays of levity during school assemblies

Recent Examples of levity from the Web

The tall black character with a face in the center of his body was an appropriate version of levity for all of this … somehow.

— trevor fraser, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Florida Film Festival kicks off with a bash," 7 Apr. 2018
Yet a roundtable Chris Murphy recently convened there on the issue included this moment of levity.

— The Economist, "Senator Chris Murphy has become a leader on gun-control," 5 Apr. 2018
In the Spring of 2003, Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf gave daily briefings that were a welcome moment of levity in a theater of war.

— roy bragg, San Antonio Express-News, "Racist? No. Unfair? Yep.," 29 Mar. 2018
The song is a gripping torrent of fury and resentment, levelled at a cheating lover—and the other woman—but bolstered by moments of sideways levity.

— gary shteyngart, The New Yorker, "Cardi B’s “Invasion of Privacy” Is as Studious as It Is Bombastic," 27 Sep. 2017
The whole conversation was a welcome moment of levity.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Xavier basketball preps for start of NCAA Tournament run against Texas Southern," 15 Mar. 2018
But in a rare moment of levity, Trump jokingly alluded to the possibility of a Pence 2020 campaign during a speech at last weekend’s Gridiron Dinner for political insiders in Washington, which Pence also attended.

— astead w. herndon, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump’s GOP critics eye a potential primary challenge," 9 Mar. 2018
While Sunday’s show promises plenty of levity — Jimmy Kimmel is hosting after all — some guests will likely hit a more serious note.

— elizabeth leonard, PEOPLE.com, "From Sandra Bullock to Jane Fonda, Hollywood Legends Bring Star Power to Oscars Rehearsals," 4 Mar. 2018
The rise of partisanship on every issue, unleavened by levity, unmediated by respect for basic decency, is accelerating.

— Anchorage Daily News, "The two rivers of US media are tearing us apart," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'levity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

levity Was Once a Scientific Term

Levity originally was thought to be a physical force exactly like gravity but pulling in the opposite direction, like the helium in a balloon. As recently as the 19th century, scientists were still arguing about its existence. Today levity refers only to lightness in manner. To stern believers of some religious faiths, levity is often regarded as almost sinful. But the word, like its synonym frivolity, now has an old-fashioned ring to it and is usually used only half-seriously.