tranquillity
C1Formal, literary
Definition
Meaning
The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
A state of societal or environmental peace and quiet, often associated with natural settings or a serene mental state; can also refer to official legal or political conditions of peace and order.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an abstract, uncountable noun. Often evokes a sense of deep, lasting peace rather than momentary calm. Associated with both inner states and external environments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English standard is 'tranquillity' (double L), while American English standard is 'tranquility' (single L). The British variant is sometimes used in American poetic or formal contexts.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. Slightly more literary and elevated than synonyms like 'peace' or 'calm'.
Frequency
More frequent in written texts than in everyday speech in both varieties. The American spelling 'tranquility' appears more often in American corpora than the British spelling does in British corpora, due to the prominence of place names like 'Tranquility Base'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the tranquillity of + NOUN PHRASE (e.g., the garden)a sense/state of tranquillityVERB + tranquillity (disturb, seek, find, enjoy)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Peace and tranquillity”
- “Disturb the tranquillity”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in corporate wellness contexts or descriptions of office environments designed for focused work.
Academic
Common in literature, philosophy, psychology, and environmental studies to describe states of being or qualities of settings.
Everyday
Infrequent in casual speech. Used in descriptive writing or when discussing ideal holiday locations or personal well-being.
Technical
Used in legal contexts (e.g., 'breach of the peace and tranquillity'), urban planning, and environmental impact assessments.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The government sought to tranquillise the region.
- A walk in the garden can help tranquillise the mind.
American English
- The medication is designed to tranquilize the patient.
- They hoped the agreement would tranquilize the market's fears.
adverb
British English
- She sat tranquilly, watching the sunset.
- The village slept tranquilly through the night.
American English
- He waited tranquilly for the interview to begin.
- The water flowed tranquilly over the stones.
adjective
British English
- She had a most tranquil and composed demeanour.
- We spent a tranquil afternoon by the riverside.
American English
- He found the tranquil neighborhood perfect for retirement.
- The lake was tranquil under the morning sun.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The lake was a place of great tranquillity.
- After the busy city, I enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside.
- The sudden noise shattered the tranquillity of the evening.
- She meditates daily to find inner tranquillity amidst her stressful job.
- The planning application was rejected on the grounds that it would destroy the rural tranquillity of the area.
- His philosophical writings often explore the pursuit of mental tranquillity as the highest good.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tranquil (calm) villa by a still lake -> tranquillity.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRANQUILLITY IS STILL WATER; TRANQUILLITY IS A QUIET PLACE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'спокойствие' in all contexts; 'tranquillity' is more formal and specific than the broader Russian term. Do not confuse with 'умиротворение', which is closer to 'pacification'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'tranquility' in a British context or 'tranquillity' in a strict American one. Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a tranquillity'). Overuse in informal contexts where 'peace' or 'calm' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which word is a NEAR synonym for 'tranquillity' but implies a more temporary or surface-level state?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Tranquillity' is more formal and literary, and often emphasizes a visual or auditory calmness (quiet, stillness). 'Peace' is broader, more common, and can refer to the absence of war, conflict, or disturbance on both personal and global scales.
Link it to other British spellings that double the 'l' before adding a suffix, like 'travel' -> 'travelling'. Think: 'tranquil' + 'lity' = tranquillity.
No, it is quite formal. In everyday speech, people are more likely to say 'peace and quiet', 'calm', or simply 'peace'.
Typically, no. You describe a person as being 'tranquil' or having 'a tranquil manner'. 'Tranquillity' is the state or quality itself, not a personal attribute, though one can 'have' or 'find' tranquillity.
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