1
: the quality or state of being illuminated
the lightness [=brightness] of the room/sky
2
a
: the attribute of object colors by which the object appears to reflect or transmit more or less of the incident light compare brightness sense 2, hue sense 2c, saturation sense 4
b
: the quality or state of having or being a light (see light entry 2 sense 2a) skin color
"As long as there's White racism, there will be racism within the Black community and favoritism for lightness."—
Midge Wilson
Midge WilsonElmore had a very fair complexion. And while he had never used the lightness of his skin to pass as white, the clerk who took his voter registration paperwork never asked the question. And just like that, George Elmore registered to vote.—Antjuan Seawright
Antjuan SeawrightExamples of lightness in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the photographer was concerned that the lightness of the background would cast the main subject into shadow
Noun (2)
the first thing I noticed about the little bird was its lightness; I could hardly tell I was holding it in my hand
the inappropriate lightness of the anchorman's tone while he was reading the story of the freak accident in which people had died
Recent Examples on the Web
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
The result is a robust overall runtime that nonetheless gives you a sense of lightness.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2025
In moments of lightness, the whole world was illuminated, and everything in sight seemed to bend in her direction.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2025
The Tourbillon’s body is made from carbon fiber to maximize lightness, and the profile of the car is said to be a bit more aerodynamic than the outgoing Chiron.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightness
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Noun
Plunkett, so adept at channeling great pain through layers of gauzy lightness, reveals the depths of the character’s fear and avoidance when Ella asks if Joy will be present for her death.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
The result is a robust overall runtime that nonetheless gives you a sense of lightness.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2025
In moments of lightness, the whole world was illuminated, and everything in sight seemed to bend in her direction.
—Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2025
The Tourbillon’s body is made from carbon fiber to maximize lightness, and the profile of the car is said to be a bit more aerodynamic than the outgoing Chiron.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightness
Cite this Entry
“Lightness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lightness. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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