Solemn

Solemn is an adjective meaning formal and dignified in manner or appearance; serious and earnest, not playful; involving ceremony or ritual. It can describe people, events, or actions that are meant to convey gravity and reverence.

It is commonly used for occasions and expressions that require solemnity: a solemn ceremony, a solemn oath, a solemn warning, or a solemn mood at a funeral service. It can also describe a person’s demeanor or tone, such as a solemn face or a solemn undertone, indicating seriousness rather than happiness.

Etymology and usage history: the term derives from Latin sollemnis meaning ceremonial or customary, passing through Old French as solempne. Historically linked to sacred or religious observances, it has broadened to cover formal seriousness in secular contexts as well.

Related forms and distinctions: related nouns include solemnity, the state or quality of being solemn, and solemnization or solemnise, the act of making something ceremonially formal. An adverb form is solemnly. Antonyms include festive, mirthful, and frivolous, which describe lighter or more playful attitudes or occasions.

In practice, the word signals a sense of gravity, respect, or ritual importance, whether describing a ceremony, a vow, a statement delivered with gravity, or a mood that calls for quiet contemplation rather than celebration.