Gravitas
noun /ˈɡrævɪtæs/ — The weight of genuine authority and seriousness.
Definition
Dignity, seriousness, or solemnity of manner; the quality of being weighty and authoritative; a presence that commands respect.
Beyond the definition
Gravitas can't be performed — it's recognised. It comes from having thought seriously about serious things, from having been through enough to be unhurried. The person with gravitas doesn't need to announce themselves.
Origin & history
From Latin gravitas — weight, seriousness (gravis 'heavy, weighty'). The Romans considered gravitas one of the essential virtues of a Roman citizen and leader.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
He spoke rarely and briefly, but with a gravitas that made people write things down.
She had the gravitas of someone who'd made difficult decisions and lived with the results.
Gravitas without warmth becomes intimidating. With warmth, it becomes trustworthy.
Synonyms
authority, dignity, seriousness, solemnity, weight
Antonyms
flippancy, levity, frivolity
Related words
Gravitas vs seriousness
Gravitas is a profound sense of authority, weight, and dignity. Seriousness is a general disposition of not joking or being playful, which may lack the inherent authority of gravitas.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Weight of the law
An adult stands in a vast, wood-paneled room holding a document, appearing solemn and fully committed to their significant task.
The formal setting and the individual's serious, unpretentious posture convey a sense of weight. Gravitas describes a dignified, solemn seriousness that commands respect, signaled here by the person's focused demeanor within a space that demands high levels of accountability.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration