What does hollowness mean?
Hollowness names the condition of being hollow, either literally, as when an object or space has an empty interior, or figuratively, as when a person, statement, or experience lacks substance, depth, or emotional significance. The literal sense is relatively uncommon, while the figurative sense is especially useful for describing disappointing promises, hollow victories, insincere relationships, and emotions that seem empty or distant. Although the word can sound critical or severe, it is often more restrained than terms such as “fraud” or “pretense”: it focuses on the absence of genuine substance rather than explicitly accusing someone of deception. In literary and formal writing, hollowness is especially effective for suggesting that something once appeared vivid or meaningful but has lost its inner life. It is a precise noun for the quality behind experiences that feel empty, unreal, or unsupported.
nounThe state or quality of being hollow, especially of an object or enclosed space. Figuratively, it refers to a lack of substance, depth, sincerity, or emotional significance.
- The state or quality of being hollow, especially of an object or enclosed space.
- A lack of substance, depth, sincerity, or emotional significance.
"The hollowness of the promise was impossible to ignore."
"He tapped the wall and listened to the hollowness of the sound."
"She sensed a hollowness in his apology."
Rare and usually unnecessary; hollowness is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"The novel explores the different hollownesses of modern urban life."
Sometimes the loudest thing in a room is the emptiness inside it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hollowness come from?
Hollowness was formed in English by adding the suffix “-ness” to “hollow.” The word “hollow” derives from Old English “holc,” meaning a hollow place or cavity, while “-ness” is a Middle English suffix used to form nouns denoting a state or quality. The development of “hollowness” followed the established English pattern of creating abstract quality nouns from adjectives.
How hollowness is actually used
Hollowness is a formal or literary noun. It can describe a literal cavity, but it is more commonly used figuratively for something that appears meaningful or sincere while lacking genuine substance.
Easily confused with hollowness
Hollow is primarily an adjective meaning empty inside or lacking substance, while hollowness is the noun naming that quality or condition.