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

The structure brings visitors below ground, from lightness to darkness, with sounds slowly dissipating.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

“The lightness was forced, and the joy was a lie,” she tells him.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

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

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

In that vision, hue, saturation and lightness would be determined entirely by geometry and the principle of greatest color similarity.

From Science Daily • Feb. 23, 2026

The tears still drip, but I also feel this lightness inside that becomes a smile, and then I’m laughing a little because it’s coming back.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Related Words

• brightness
• sparkle