profanity

noun

pro·​fan·​i·​ty prō-ˈfa-nə-tē 

prə-

plural profanities

1

a

: the quality or state of being profane

b

: the use of profane language

2

a

: profane language

b

: an utterance of profane language

Synonyms of profanity

• curse
• language
• swear
• expletive
• obscenity
• cuss
• vulgarism

Examples of profanity in a Sentence

The comic uses too much profanity.

My mom will not tolerate profanity.

I have never heard my father utter a single profanity.

Recent Examples on the Web

Armed with strings of profanity and his thick Mancunian brogue, Liam admits that being back in front of an audience does, in fact, mean a lot to him. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

In the lobby of his apartment building, Kiritsis held a press conference, expressing anger at Meridian but also apologizing for the ordeal and his use of profanity throughout. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Sep. 2026

Notes on the investigation obtained by the Courant show witnesses who were interviewed said Plessy Cloud spoke only in a respectful tone and that no voices were raised, nor were any profanities heard. — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026

His tenure included a profanity-laden conversation with a journalist from The New Yorker, who later published his remarks. — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for profanity

• humanity
• inanity
• insanity
• urbanity
• christianity
• inhumanity
• sanity
• vanity

Kids Definition

profanity

noun

pro·​fan·​i·​ty prō-ˈfan-ət-ē 

prə-

plural profanities

1

: the quality or state of being profane

2

: profane language