[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/severity/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / severity

# severity

noun (severity, uncountable; severities rare)

«severity» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Severity is how serious, strong or bad something is, such as the severity of an illness, an injury, a storm or a punishment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/severity/#m1)
2. Severity can mean strictness or harshness, as in a teacher's severity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/severity/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science and safety it is used to rank dangers: storms, earthquakes and allergies are graded by severity. In first aid, you judge the severity of an injury to know whether to call for help. In stories it describes a stern, strict manner. Phrases: «the severity of», «depending on the severity», «reduce the severity».

### Examples

- Doctors decide treatment by the severity of the injury. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/severity/#x1)
- The severity of the storm surprised everyone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/severity/#x2)
- Earthquakes are measured to show their severity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/severity/#x3)
- Her allergy varies in severity from a rash to trouble breathing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/severity/#x4)
- The punishment was too harsh for the severity of the crime. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/severity/#x5)
- He spoke with such severity that the room went silent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/severity/#x6)
- Wearing a helmet reduces the severity of head injuries. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/severity/#x7)
- The girl was frightened by her father’s severity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/severity/#x8)

### Note

Uncountable. Adjective: severe. Spelling: «severity», not «severety». Similar words: seriousness, strength; for people: strictness, sternness.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «severity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/severity/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«severity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/severity.html) on Mova free.