severity
Americannoun
plural
severities-
harshness, sternness, or rigor.
Their lives were marked by severity.
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austere simplicity, as of style, manner, or taste.
The severity of the decor was striking.
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intensity or sharpness, as of cold or pain.
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grievousness; hard or trying character or effect.
The severity of his loss was finally becoming apparent.
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rigid exactness or accuracy.
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an instance of strict or severe behavior, punishment, etc.
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
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
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
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Tears of a Tiger
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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.
Although antidepressants are not FDA-approved specifically for IBS, they are often prescribed to help manage pain and reduce symptom severity.
From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026
The "speed and severity of climate change in the South East particularly has outstripped reasonable predictions", he said.
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed its investigation into Tesla’s “Actually Smart Summon” feature due to the low frequency and severity of reported crashes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
The plaintiffs, ten of whom remain incarcerated, have received payments ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 based on the severity of their injuries, according to their attorney Robert Chalfant.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026
He asks about the severity of the pain and discomfort over the past few days.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
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.
