solemnity
Americannoun
plural
solemnitiesnoun
-
the state or quality of being solemn
-
(often plural) solemn ceremony, observance, celebration, etc
-
law a formality necessary to validate a deed, act, contract, etc
Other Word Forms
- oversolemnity noun
- semisolemnity noun
- supersolemnity noun
Etymology
Origin of solemnity
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English solempnete, from Old French, from Latin sollemnitās; equivalent to solemn + -ity
Explanation
Put on a straight face when you think of the word solemnity; it is used for occasions that are all about seriousness and dignity. The word solemnity has been around since the fourteenth century helping people describe the mood of occasions ranging from funerals of beloved public figures to ceremonies welcoming United Nations dignitaries. This is the noun form of the adjective solemn, and you’ll often see it used with “of,” as in “the solemnity of the occasion called for hushed voices.”
Vocabulary lists containing solemnity
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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Purple Hibiscus
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"Rules of the Game" (from The Joy Luck Club) by Amy Tan
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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.
Ali Della Bitta’s clay-and-mixed-media pieces, shown by Artist Estate Studio, are dazzling assemblages that tread the line between delicacy and solidity, playfulness and solemnity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025
It’s evidence of an unorthodox communication disposition developing within the party, away from the solemnity that has defined its reputation throughout the failure of the past decade.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2025
Not different in how it was done or the solemnity of the moment as MPs fell quiet and listened respectfully.
From BBC • Mar. 5, 2025
Some were passed along by longtime Angelenos with the solemnity of handing down a family heirloom.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2024
I was stubborn, but I had never been as solemn as him, and I admired the strength that his solemnity seemed to represent.
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
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.
