noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American:/ˈfɝmnəs/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈfɜːmnəs/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:F ER1 M N AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The state of being firm
security; steadfastness; good grip
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The state of being firm
strictness; mental strength
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The state of being firm
physical durability; rigidness (of material)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
the quality of being steady or securely and immovably fixed in place
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hardness
7
noun
Meaning 7
the muscle tone of healthy tissue
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
his muscular firmness
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: soundness
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: strength
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English firm Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English firmness From firm + -ness.
Across languages
Translations
29 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
ثَبَات
(ṯabāt)
— state of being firm
Armenian:
պնդություն
(pndutʻyun)
— state of being firm
Asturian:
firmeza
— state of being firm
Catalan:
fermesa
— state of being firm
Finnish:
lujuus
— state of being firm
French:
fermeté
— state of being firm
Galician:
firmeza
— state of being firm
Galician:
rixo
— state of being firm
German:
Stärke
— state of being firm
German:
Festigkeit
— state of being firm
Ancient Greek:
στερέωμα
(steréōma)
— state of being firm
Hindi:
दृढ़ता
(dŕṛhtā)
— state of being firm
Irish:
diongbháilteacht
— state of being firm
Irish:
seasmhacht
— state of being firm
Irish:
fostacht
— state of being firm
Italian:
fermezza
— state of being firm
Latin:
firmitās
— state of being firm
Latvian:
cietība
— state of being firm
Latvian:
stingrums
— state of being firm
Latvian:
stingrība
— state of being firm
Old English:
fæstnes
— state of being firm
Portuguese:
firmeza
— state of being firm
Russian:
твёрдость
(tvjórdostʹ)
— state of being firm
Russian:
про́чность
(próčnostʹ)
— state of being firm
Russian:
реши́мость
(rešímostʹ)
— state of being firm