gravitas

[grav-i-tahs, ‑-tas]

noun

1. seriousness or sobriety, as of conduct or speech.

gravitas

/ ˈɡrævɪˌtæs /

noun

1. seriousness, solemnity, or importance

Word History and Origins

Origin of gravitas¹

First recorded in 1920–25; from Latin gravitās; gravity

Word History and Origins

Origin of gravitas¹

C20: from Latin gravitās weight, from gravis heavy

Example Sentences

Carney’s affectionate salute to the local hero had one line that tickled the crowd — “As Uncle Buck said,” the PM intoned with tongue-in-cheek gravitas — and pointed political jabs that got people clapping.

From Los Angeles Times

Burton was the only Democrat who had the relationships and gravitas to derail the bill.

From Los Angeles Times

"He had gravitas, he had intelligence, he spoke in a very informed way about every detail of his business."

From BBC

“Those speeches just have a ring to them. They have a gravitas to them, they have a wisdom to them, they have timeless sense of theme to them.”

From Los Angeles Times

For Japan's Osaka, another match for her to underpin her gravitas in tennis' seemingly endless-yet-entertaining grind to prove current status.

From BBC

Related Words

• dignity 
• gravity 
• sobriety