obscurity

noun

ob·​scu·​ri·​ty äb-ˈskyu̇r-ə-tē 

əb-

plural obscurities

1

: one that is obscure

… peppered with quotes from … heavy hitters, as well as some downright obscurities.

—Penelope Green

2

: the quality or state of being obscure

novels that have faded into obscurity

Synonyms

• ambiguity
• ambiguousness
• darkness
• equivocalness
• equivocation
• inscrutability
• inscrutableness
• murkiness
• mysteriousness
• nebulosity
• nebulousness
• obliqueness
• obliquity
• opacity
• opaqueness

Examples of obscurity in a Sentence

In recent years, the tradition has emerged from obscurity.

He has been living in relative obscurity in a small town in the mountains.

After a promising first novel, she faded into obscurity.

Recent Examples on the Web

In about a week, though, T-Coronae Borealis fades back to obscurity. —Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024

In the days after Elvis's passing, Jimmy Ellis, an unknown singer with a baritone that matched the King's, was plucked from obscurity and passed off as a masked Presley, back from the dead. —Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 20 May 2024

Rather than fade into the obscurity to which she has been doomed, Elisabeth takes a gamble on a black-market drug called the Substance. —Rachel Handler, Vulture, 20 May 2024

Boughton describes White’s early scholarly contributions and rise from academic obscurity. —Barry Eichengreen, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English obscurite, borrowed from Anglo-French oscurté, obscurité, borrowed from Latin obscūritāt-, obscūritās, from obscūrus "dim, dark, imperfectly known, concealed from knowledge, incomprehensible" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at obscure entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

obscurity

noun

ob·​scu·​ri·​ty äb-ˈskyu̇r-ət-ē 

əb-

plural obscurities

1

: something that is obscure

2

: the quality or state of being obscure