solemnity

noun

so·​lem·​ni·​ty sə-ˈlem-nə-tē 

plural solemnities

1

: formal or ceremonious observance of an occasion or event

2

: a solemn event or occasion

3

: a solemn condition or quality

the solemnity of his words

Synonyms of solemnity

• intentness
• gravity
• earnestness
• solemnness
• seriousness

Examples of solemnity in a Sentence

the solemnity of the occasion

Her voice conveyed the solemnity of the passage.

The visiting statesman was welcomed with appropriate solemnity.

Elaborate solemnities marked the 100th anniversary of the event.

Recent Examples on the Web

As his own self-celebration has fizzled, a void has opened between the scheduled roster of events and the true purpose and meaning of the solemnity of July 4, 2026. —David Frum, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026

All the secrecy and almost solemnity added to the anticipation of a launch that was five years in the making. —Charlotte Reed, CNBC, 29 May 2026

The overnight journey evokes a wide range of emotions in Sardinia’s pilgrims — joy, hope, solemnity and catharsis. —New York Times, 19 May 2026

For McQuoid, that appears to mean making a film devoid of color, shooting the incoherent fight sequences against murky backdrops, and treating the origin story of secondary protagonist Kitana (Adeline Rudolph) with the solemnity of a biblical reading. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for solemnity

• indemnity