What does equanimity mean?
Equanimity refers to a state of mental steadiness and emotional balance — the ability to remain calm, composed, and even-tempered, particularly when circumstances are difficult, surprising, or upsetting. A person who receives bad news or faces criticism with equanimity does not deny their feelings but keeps them from disturbing their judgment or demeanor. The word is formal in register and appears frequently in philosophical writing, especially in Stoic and Buddhist traditions, where it names a cultivated virtue rather than a passing mood. Its connotation is admiring: to display equanimity suggests maturity, discipline, and inner strength. Common collocations include accepting something with equanimity or bearing hardship with equanimity. Derived from Latin roots meaning 'even mind,' the term entered English in the early seventeenth century and remains a valued vocabulary item for describing grace under pressure — precisely because such composure is rare enough to be worth naming.
nounMental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult or stressful situation.
- Evenness of mind or temper; mental calmness and composure, especially under stress or difficulty.
"She accepted the news of her dismissal with remarkable equanimity."
"The pilot handled the engine failure with astonishing equanimity."
"He listened to the harsh criticism with quiet equanimity, neither defensive nor dismissive."
Rarely pluralized; the noun is almost always used as an uncountable mass noun referring to a general quality of composure. A plural form appears only occasionally in literary contexts to denote different kinds or instances of calm.
"Different traditions cultivate different equanimities, each suited to its own trials."
The Stoics prized equanimity so highly that the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote an entire private journal — his Meditations — largely as reminders to keep it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of equanimity
Equanimity derives from the Latin aequanimitas, formed from aequus ('even, level, equal') and animus ('mind, spirit'), literally 'evenness of mind.' The word passed into English in the early seventeenth century, initially in philosophical and theological contexts describing serenity of soul. It shares its Latin roots with words like equilibrium ('equal weight') and equality, and its structure parallels magnanimity ('greatness of spirit').
Related word forms
How equanimity is actually used
Equanimity is a relatively formal word, common in literary, philosophical (especially Buddhist and Stoic), and psychological writing. It carries a strongly positive connotation of mature self-control rather than mere indifference; it implies feeling the difficulty but remaining steady despite it.
Easily confused with equanimity
Enormity means extreme wickedness or vastness, whereas equanimity means calmness and composure; they differ in meaning despite both ending in -imity.