severity
Americannoun
-
harshness, sternness, or rigor.
Their lives were marked by severity.
-
austere simplicity, as of style, manner, or taste.
The severity of the decor was striking.
-
intensity or sharpness, as of cold or pain.
-
grievousness; hard or trying character or effect.
The severity of his loss was finally becoming apparent.
-
rigid exactness or accuracy.
-
an instance of strict or severe behavior, punishment, etc.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of severity
First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin sevēritās, from sevēr(us) severe + -itās -ity
Explanation
Severity is a plain, no-frills hardness––or the degree of hardness. You might talk about the severity of the northern winter, or the severity of your grandfather's discipline. Severity, with its root in severe, has several nuances. It can mean a hardship, like war’s severity. It also refers to an extreme plainness. Think of the severity of Amish life: no phones, cars, or other modern technology. And you might use it to describe your math teacher’s manner: his severity is indicated by his short, clipped sentences, angry stare, and propensity to fail students without mercy.
Vocabulary lists containing severity
This Week In Words: March 29–April 4, 2020
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Tears of a Tiger
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
An employee from one of the firms told AFP on condition of anonymity that the severity of the crackdown was unprecedented, despite a previous penalty in 2022.
From Barron's • Jul. 3, 2026
A massive tech selloff roiled Korean stock indices over the past month, as the severity of wartime shortages became clear.
From Slate • Jul. 2, 2026
But even filing a single claim can contribute to a home-insurance premium increase ranging from 7% to 10%, some legal experts estimate, depending on the location and severity.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 26, 2026
Her death leaves the question of the succession in Thailand unanswered, and the severity of the country's lese majeste law rules out any public discussion of it.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
The severity of shock is reflected in 17-hydroxycortico- steroid levels comparable to those in schizophrenic patients in incipient psychosis, which exceed levels in other stressful situations.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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.
