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Synonyms

lightness

1 American  
[lahyt-nis] / ˈlaɪt nɪs /

noun

  1. the state or quality of being light lights in weight.

    the amazing lightness of the new metal.

  2. the quality of being agile, nimble, or graceful.

    Synonyms:
    sprightliness, nimbleness, grace, agility

  3. lack of pressure or burdensomeness.

  4. lack of seriousness; levity in actions, thoughts, or speech.

    That kind of lightness seemed out of place.

  5. gaiety of manner, speech, style, etc.; cheerfulness.

    His lightness was just what the party needed.
lightness 2 American  
[lahyt-nis] / ˈlaɪt nɪs /

noun

  1. the state or quality of being light lights or illuminated.

  2. thin or pale coloration.

  3. the relative degree to which an object reflects light, lights, especially light lights of complementary or nearly complementary colors.

lightness British  
/ ˈlaɪtnɪs /

noun

  1. the attribute of an object or colour that enables an observer to judge the extent to which the object or colour reflects or transmits incident light See also colour

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lightness1

1175–1225; Middle English. See light 2, -ness

Origin of lightness2

before 1050; Middle English; Old English līhtness. See light 1, -ness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"The series is a lovely blend of lightness and comedy, with some genuinely moving and poignant moments".

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Roxana Bujack, a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, led a team that applied geometry to precisely describe how we experience hue, saturation and lightness.

From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026

The truest to buttery brioche in flavor and texture, and through its lightness, one could almost convince oneself this is breakfast.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2026

Alexander’s production of “Sweeney Todd” has breadth and heft, but also intimacy and lightness.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

A lightness entered into his body as more small cyclones of increasingly icy wind rippled across the lake and through the luxuriant summer grasses.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.