Standard Lemma guide

firmness

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.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: steadiness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: immovability, immovableness

Narrower terms: granite, sureness, stability, stableness

5

noun

Meaning 5

the trait of being resolute

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his resoluteness carried him through the battle
  • it was his unshakeable resolution to finish the work

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: resoluteness, firmness of purpose, resolve, resolution

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: trait

Narrower terms: self-control, self-possession, possession, willpower, will power, self-command, self-will, steadiness, sturdiness, stiffness, stubbornness, bullheadedness, obstinacy, obstinance, pigheadedness, single-mindedness, adamance, obduracy, unyieldingness, decisiveness, decision, determination, purpose, steadfastness

6

noun

Meaning 6

the property of being unyielding to the touch

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

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
  • Sanskrit: धृति (dhṛti) — state of being firm
  • Spanish: firmeza — state of being firm
  • Swedish: fasthet — state of being firm
  • Tamil: அருப்பம் (aruppam) — state of being firm