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
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.
Now, we go on remembering vicariously, performing rituals of solemnity and sorrow to honour those who died, but the meaning of those rituals have changed over the years.
From BBC • Nov. 10, 2025
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
Unfortunately, the jokes are far outweighed by the solemnity.
From Slate • Jun. 12, 2025
Despite its respectful restraint, “Eric LaRue” can be smothering in its solemnity, leaving Janice feeling one-note rather than a woman lost in her tangle of emotions.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2025
The bad omen did not change his solemnity, however.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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.
