lightness

¹ American  

[lahyt-nis] / ˈlaɪt nɪs /

noun

1. the state or quality of being light 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.

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lightness ² American  

[lahyt-nis] / ˈlaɪt nɪs /

noun

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

2. thin or pale coloration.

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

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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

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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

“So, the joy and lightness to what is an incredibly somber moment in American history.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

The goal was to define hue, saturation, and lightness using only the geometric property of highest color similarity.

From Science Daily • Jun. 7, 2026

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

From BBC • Mar. 12, 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

An absurd lightness draped itself around him; all things were possible, all things were manageable.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• brightness
• sparkle