# severity

/sɪˈvɛɹɪti/ (US) · /səvˈɛɹɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/severity
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. seriousness of a problem

noun · CEFR B2

how serious or bad a problem, illness, or situation is.

For teachers: the degree of intensity or seriousness of something undesirable, such as a disease, weather event, or economic crisis.

- The severity of the storm surprised everyone, as it caused a lot of damage to the houses.
- Medical professionals were concerned by the severity of the outbreak, noting that symptoms progressed much faster than in previous years.

Usage: often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the problem.

### 2. strictness or harshness

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the quality of being very strict or harsh in the way you treat people.

For teachers: the quality of being stern, austere, or harsh in treatment or judgement.

- The teacher was known for the severity of her rules, but the students respected her.
- The severity of the sentence handed down by the judge sparked a national debate regarding the proportionality of the legal system.

Usage: uncountable in this sense.

### 3. plainness or lack of decoration

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a style that is very simple and plain, without any decoration.

For teachers: the quality of being extremely plain or simple in style or appearance; austerity.

- The severity of the building's design made it look cold and unfriendly.
- The architect favoured a certain severity in his work, stripping away all ornamental flourishes to focus on raw concrete and sharp angles.

## Examples

- The doctor checked the severity of the injury.
- The severity of the winter storm forced the local government to close all schools for a week.
- While the initial symptoms appeared mild, the eventual severity of the infection caught the medical team off guard, necessitating an immediate change in the treatment protocol.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.