Definition for Levity

Level of confidence

Lexical access

Meaning

Frivolity, lack of appropriate seriousness.

Sentence

The Puritan elders tried to ban levity of all sorts from the community's meetings.

Commentary

Levity originally was through to be a physical force exactly like gravity but pulling in the opposite direction. Even as late as the last century, scientists were arguing about its existence. But today levity refers to lightness in manner. This was once regarded as almost sinful, so the word has an old-fashioned ring to it and is usually used in a half-serious tone of disapproval.