serenity

serenity — noun

1. a peaceful, quiet state in which a person feels no worry or stress and the surro

1.nounB2
Definition

a peaceful, quiet state in which a person feels no worry or stress and the surroundings are free from noise or disturbance — for example, the feeling of sitting alone by a still lake or in a quiet garden.

Example

After a long week at work, Eri found serenity in the quiet of her garden.

find serenity in [place/activity]

Yara loved the serenity of the early morning, before the city woke up.

serenity of [time of day]

Common collocations
  • deep serenity
  • inner serenity
  • perfect serenity
  • a sense of serenity
  • a moment of serenity
  • serenity of mind
  • serenity of [place]
Synonyms
  • peace

    much more common and general; covers everything from world peace to inner peace; less elevated in tone

  • calm

    emphasizes absence of agitation or strong emotion, often temporary or situational

  • tranquility

    very close in meaning but more often used to describe a physical setting than a person's state of mind

  • stillness

    emphasizes the physical absence of movement or sound rather than emotional peace

Antonyms
  • chaos

    complete disorder and confusion, opposite of a peaceful environment

  • turmoil

    a state of great disturbance or uncertainty, opposite of inner calm

  • anxiety

    a feeling of worry or nervousness, opposite of emotional peace

Usage Note

Often describes an external environment (a quiet room, a natural setting) or a person's internal state of mind ('inner serenity'). More formal and less common in everyday speech than the related words peace or calm.

Common Mistakes

I felt very serenity after the yoga class.
I felt very serene after the yoga class.
Serenity is a noun; use the adjective form serene to describe how someone feels.
The garden has a serenity atmosphere.
The garden has a serene atmosphere.
Serenity is a noun, not an adjective; use serene to modify another noun.

Word family

  • serene
    adjectiveB2
  • serenely
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Peace is the broadest and most common term, used for everything from world peace to inner peace. Calm suggests the absence of agitation in a specific moment, often temporary. Tranquility is close to serenity in register and often describes a settled, undisturbed physical setting. Stillness emphasizes the physical absence of motion or sound rather than emotional peace. Serenity stands apart by carrying an elevated, almost spiritual tone — it implies a deep and lasting peace rather than a passing calm. For example, you might say 'I feel calm after the yoga class' but 'I practice yoga to cultivate serenity in my life.' The difference is one of depth, permanence, and register.

peace ↗calm ↗tranquilitystillness ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • a feeling of serenity
  • a state of serenity
  • a sense of serenity
  • peace and serenity
  • calm and serenity

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'serēnus' meaning clear, bright, and unclouded — used first to describe the sky and weather, then extended to describe a person's temperament and mental state. The word entered English through Old French 'serenité' in the 15th century.