levity

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Lightness of manner or speech, especially when inappropriate; frivolity.
2. n. Inconstancy; changeableness.
3. n. The state or quality of being light; buoyancy.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Lightness of weight; relatively small specific gravity.
2. n. A tendency to rise by a force contrary to gravity.
3. n. Lightness of spirit or temper. Specifically— Cheerfulness; ease of mind.
4. n. Carelessness of temper or conduct; want of seriousness; disposition to trifle; inconstancy; volatility: as, the levity of youth.
5. n. Synonyms . Levity, Volatility, Flightiness, Frivolity, Lightness. All these words are founded upon the idea of the lack of physical and, by figure, of mental and moral substance or weight, with a resulting ease in flying away from what is wise. The first three refer especially to outward conduct. Levity is a want of seriousness, temporary or habitual, a disposition to trifle with important interests. Volatility is that moral defect by which one cannot dwell long upon any one object of thought, or turns quickly from one source of pleasure to another: the word does not convey much opprobrium; in the young some degree of volatility is expected. Flightiness borders upon the loss of sanity in caprice or excitement of fancy; it is volatility in an extreme degree. Frivolity is a matter of nature, an inability to care about any but the most petty and trifling things. Lightness is not so strong as frivolity, but covers nearly the same ground; it emphasizes inconstancy.

Wiktionary

1. n. Lightness of manner or speech, frivolity
2. n. obsolete Lack of steadiness
3. n. The state or quality of being light, buoyancy
4. n. countable A lighthearted or frivolous act

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The quality of weighing less than something else of equal bulk; relative lightness, especially as shown by rising through, or floating upon, a contiguous substance; buoyancy; -- opposed to gravity.
2. n. Lack of gravity and earnestness in deportment or character; trifling gayety; frivolity; sportiveness; vanity.
3. n. Lack of steadiness or constancy; disposition to change; fickleness; volatility.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a manner lacking seriousness
2. n. feeling an inappropriate lack of seriousness