sadness
/ˈsædnəs/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: sadnesses
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The state or emotion of being sad.
Noun
Examples
But sorrow that is couch'd in seeming gladness
Is like that mirth fate turns to sudden sadness.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
An event in one's life that causes sadness.
Noun
Examples
She has experienced many sadnesses in her forty years.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “sadness” mean?
The state or emotion of being sad.
Is “sadness” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.