gravitas: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Elevated
Quick answer
What does “gravitas” mean?
A serious, dignified, and weighty manner or demeanour that commands respect.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A serious, dignified, and weighty manner or demeanour that commands respect.
An intangible quality of substance, depth, and seriousness attributed to a person, their actions, or their words.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or application. Slightly more common in British political and media commentary, but well-established and used identically in American contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes maturity, authority, and trustworthiness. It can be used sincerely or ironically (e.g., commenting on someone affecting an air of gravitas).
Frequency
A low-frequency word in both varieties, used primarily in formal writing, journalism, political analysis, and literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gravitas” in a Sentence
[Subject] has/lacks gravitas.It lent an air of gravitas to [noun phrase].She brought a needed gravitas to the proceedings.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gravitas” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'To gravitas' is not a standard verb.
- No common usage.
American English
- 'To gravitas' is not a standard verb.
- No common usage.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb.
- He spoke gravitously' is non-standard.
American English
- No standard adverb.
- She acted with gravitas' is the correct phrasing.
adjective
British English
- No direct adjective. Use 'grave', 'dignified', or phrases like 'gravitas-laden'.
- His gravitas-laden speech impressed the audience.
American English
- No direct adjective. Use 'gravitic' only in physics.
- Her gravitas-filled demeanour was notable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe senior executives or board members whose presence inspires confidence and signals deep experience.
Academic
Used to describe the serious, weighty quality of an argument, theory, or scholar's work.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation; might be used humorously or ironically.
Technical
Not a technical term, though used metaphorically in some fields like leadership studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gravitas”
Strong
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gravitas”
- Using it to mean 'gravity' in the physical sense.
- Pronouncing it with stress on the second syllable (gra-VEE-tas).
- Using it in informal contexts where it sounds pretentious.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost exclusively positive. It describes a respected and admirable quality. It can be used ironically to suggest someone is pretending to be serious.
Yes, metaphorically. A historical document, a piece of classical music, or a profound theory can be said to possess gravitas, meaning it has depth, seriousness, and importance.
It is a direct borrowing from Latin, where it meant 'weight, seriousness, dignity'. It was one of the Roman virtues.
Use 'more gravitas' or 'greater gravitas'. The word is typically treated as an uncountable noun and is not used in the comparative form with '-er'.
A serious, dignified, and weighty manner or demeanour that commands respect.
Gravitas is usually formal, elevated in register.
Gravitas: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡravɪtas/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡrævɪˌtɑːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He was a man of substance and gravitas.”
- “She doesn't have the gravitas for the role.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GRAVITY field around a person so serious and dignified that it pulls respect towards them.
Conceptual Metaphor
SERIOUSNESS IS WEIGHT (carries weight, lightweight argument, heavyweight thinker).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'gravitas' be LEAST appropriate?