Lightness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈlīt-nəs/ light·ness

Meaning & Definition of Lightness

Lightness (noun)

  1. the quality or state of being illuminated
  2. the attribute of object colors by which the object appears to reflect or transmit more or less of the incident light
  3. the quality or state of having or being a light skin color
  4. the quality or state of being light especially in weight
  5. lack of seriousness and stability of character often accompanied by casual heedlessness
  6. the quality or state of being nimble

Lightness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the state or quality of having little weight

    "the first thing I noticed about the little bird was its lightness; I could hardly tell I was holding it in my hand"

    similar: slightness, weightlessness
    related: airiness, delicacy, ethereality, etherealness, flimsiness, fluffiness, insubstantiality
    opposite: heaviness, heftiness, massiveness, ponderousness, weightiness
    near: solidity, solidness, substantiality

  2. a lack of seriousness often at an improper time

    "the inappropriate lightness of the anchorman's tone while he was reading the story of the freak accident in which people had died"

    similar: facetiousness, flightiness, flippancy, frivolity, frivolousness, frothiness, levity, light-headedness, light-mindedness, silliness
    related: cheer, cheerfulness, festivity, gaiety, glee, gleefulness, high-spiritedness, hilarity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness, childishness, goofiness, puerility
    opposite: earnestness, gravity, seriousness, soberness, solemnity, solemnness
    near: dejection, depression, despondency, dispiritedness, downheartedness, gloom, gloominess, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, mopes, moroseness, sadness, sullenness, unhappiness

  3. the quality or state of having or giving off light

    "the photographer was concerned that the lightness of the background would cast the main subject into shadow"

    similar: brightness, brilliance, brilliancy, candor, dazzle, effulgence, illumination, lambency, luminance, luminosity, luminousness, luster, lustrousness, radiance, refulgence, splendor
    related: blaze, flare, flash, flicker, light, fluorescence, incandescence, luminescence, burnish, gloss, polish, sheen, shine, shininess, fire, flame, glare, glow, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, scintillation, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle
    opposite: blackness, dark, darkness, dullness, duskiness
    near: dimness, gloominess, somberness, cloudiness, haziness, murkiness, obscureness, obscurity, colorlessness, grayness, lackluster, paleness, shadiness, shadowiness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Lightness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Lightness:

slightness, weightlessness, facetiousness, flightiness, flippancy, frivolity, frivolousness, frothiness, levity, light-headedness, light-mindedness, silliness, brightness, brilliance, brilliancy, candor, dazzle, effulgence, illumination, lambency, luminance, luminosity, luminousness, luster, lustrousness, radiance, refulgence, splendor

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Lightness

Words with the opposite meaning of Lightness:

heaviness, heftiness, massiveness, ponderousness, weightiness, earnestness, gravity, seriousness, soberness, solemnity, solemnness, blackness, dark, darkness, dullness, duskiness

Related Words for Lightness

airiness, delicacy, ethereality, etherealness, flimsiness, fluffiness, insubstantiality, cheer, cheerfulness, festivity, gaiety, glee, gleefulness, high-spiritedness, hilarity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness, childishness, goofiness, puerility, blaze, flare, flash, flicker, light, fluorescence, incandescence

Near Antonyms of Lightness

solidity, solidness, substantiality, dejection, depression, despondency, dispiritedness, downheartedness, gloom, gloominess, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, mopes, moroseness, sadness, sullenness, unhappiness, dimness, somberness, cloudiness, haziness, murkiness, obscureness, obscurity, colorlessness, grayness, lackluster, paleness, shadiness

Origin & Etymology of Lightness

First known use: before 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Lightness

What does "Lightness" mean?

"Lightness" means the quality or state of being illuminated. As a noun, it is defined as: the quality or state of being illuminated. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Lightness"?

Other words for "Lightness" include slightness, weightlessness, facetiousness, flightiness, flippancy, frivolity, frivolousness and frothiness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Lightness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Lightness"?

There are 78 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Lightness". Common alternatives include slightness, weightlessness, facetiousness, flightiness, flippancy, frivolity, frivolousness, frothiness, levity and light-headedness.

What is the opposite of "Lightness"?

Antonyms of "Lightness" include heaviness, heftiness, massiveness, ponderousness, weightiness, earnestness, gravity and seriousness. Near antonyms include solidity, solidness, substantiality and dejection.

How do you use "Lightness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Lightness" in a sentence: "the first thing I noticed about the little bird was its lightness; I could hardly tell I was holding it in my hand"; "the inappropriate lightness of the anchorman's tone while he was reading the story of the freak accident in which people had died"; "the photographer was concerned that the lightness of the background would cast the main subject into shadow".

Is "Lightness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Lightness" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Lightness"?

"Lightness" is pronounced /ˈlīt-nəs/ and divided into syllables as light·ness.

What is the origin of the word "Lightness"?

First known use: before 12th century.