severity

American  

[suh-ver-i-tee] / səˈvɛr ɪ ti /

noun

plural

severities

1. harshness, sternness, or rigor.

   Their lives were marked by severity.

2. austere simplicity, as of style, manner, or taste.

   The severity of the decor was striking.

3. intensity or sharpness, as of cold or pain.

4. grievousness; hard or trying character or effect.

   The severity of his loss was finally becoming apparent.

5. rigid exactness or accuracy.

6. an instance of strict or severe behavior, punishment, etc.

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Other Word Forms

• nonseverity noun
• overseverity noun
• superseverity noun

Etymology

Origin of severity

First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin sevēritās, from sevēr(us) severe + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

However, some experts dispute the severity of that risk.

From MarketWatch

These findings remained consistent after accounting for the type of spinal cord injury and its severity.

From Science Daily

While there is no single measure for severity of storm in the UK, Storm Éoywn was notable as being the most powerful windstorm in a decade.

From BBC

In his first term, he played down the severity of his Covid-19 symptoms and declined to disclose that he got a colonoscopy.

From The Wall Street Journal

She said, however, the situation in Corral de Tierra hasn’t reached that level of severity.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• harshness