What does shallowness mean?
Shallowness names the condition of being shallow. In its literal sense, it describes water or another space that has little depth. In figurative use, it is more common and refers to a lack of intellectual, emotional, or cultural depth: superficial conversation, unserious entertainment, or an idea that appears engaging but offers little beneath the surface. The word is typically critical rather than neutral, and it often implies that something is inadequate because it fails to engage with complexity or significance. It can describe people, but it is also frequently applied to writing, speech, traditions, and values. Shallowness contrasts with depth, profundity, and seriousness, making it especially useful when evaluating whether something has been explored fully or remains merely superficial.
nounThe quality or state of being shallow, especially of having little physical depth. Figuratively, it refers to a lack of depth, seriousness, insight, or understanding.
- The quality of having little physical depth.
- Lack of intellectual depth, seriousness, or understanding; superficiality.
"Her shallowness made the conversation feel increasingly superficial."
"The shallowness of the pool made it unsuitable for diving."
"The speech was criticized for its shallowness and its avoidance of difficult questions."
Rare; the noun is normally used in the singular or uncountably.
"The novel's shallownesses were more apparent on a second reading."
From the literal shallowness of a stream to the metaphorical shallowness of an idea, this word exposes the limits of what lies just beneath the surface.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shallowness come from?
Shallowness is formed from the adjective shallow with the suffix -ness, which creates a noun meaning the quality or state of being something. Shallow comes through Middle English from a word related to shoal, meaning a shallow area of water, and ultimately derives from an Old English root associated with a shelf or shallow place. The abstract figurative sense developed later by analogy with physical depth.
How shallowness is actually used
Usually neutral or critical. It is common in figurative descriptions of people, writing, conversations, culture, and thought, where it suggests an absence of depth or substance.
Easily confused with shallowness
Shallowness is the noun meaning the quality of being shallow, while shallow is the adjective describing something with little depth or insufficient thought.