enormity

noun

enor·​mi·​ty i-ˈnȯr-mə-tē 

plural enormities

1

: an outrageous, improper, vicious, or immoral act

the enormities of state power

—Susan Sontag

other enormities too juvenile to mention

—Richard Freedman

2

: the quality or state of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous

especially : great wickedness

the enormity of the crimes committed during the Third Reich

—G. A. Craig

3

: the quality or state of being huge : immensity

the inconceivable enormity of the universe

4

: a quality of momentous importance or impact

the enormity of the decision

Enormity vs. Enormousness: Usage Guide

Enormity, some people insist, is improperly used to denote large size. They insist on enormousness for this meaning, and would limit enormity to the meaning "great wickedness." Those who urge such a limitation may not recognize the subtlety with which enormity is actually used. It regularly denotes a considerable departure from the expected or normal.

they awakened; they sat up; and then the enormity of their situation burst upon them. "How did the fire start?"

—John Steinbeck

When used to denote large size, either literal or figurative, it usually suggests something so large as to seem overwhelming

no intermediate zone of study. Either the enormity of the desert or the sight of a tiny flower

—Paul Theroux

the enormity of the task of teachers in slum schools

—J. B. Conant

and may even be used to suggest both great size and deviation from morality.

the enormity of existing stockpiles of atomic weapons

—New Republic

It can also emphasize the momentousness of what has happened

the sombre enormity of the Russian Revolution

—George Steiner

or of its consequences.

perceived as no one in the family could the enormity of the misfortune

—E. L. Doctorow

Did you know?

Although enormity has been used since the late 1700s to denote large size, this usage continues to be disparaged by various language commentators who argue that enormity should be reserved for senses related to "great wickedness." It is enormousness, they insist (a hefty and considerably less common word), that should be used in reference to great size, despite the fact that, like enormity, it too originally was used to denote wickedness or divergence from accepted moral standards. For better or worse, this proscription has been widely ignored by many English speakers, including professional writers. However one chooses to use them, enormity and enormous can both be traced back to the Latin enormis, from the prefix e- ("out of") and norma ("rule," "pattern," or "carpenter's square").

Synonyms

• atrociousness
• atrocity
• badness
• depravedness
• depravity
• diabolicalness
• evilness
• heinousness
• hideousness
• monstrosity
• sinfulness
• vileness
• wickedness

Examples of enormity in a Sentence

We were shocked at the enormity of the crime.

They didn't fully grasp the enormity of their decision.

Recent Examples on the Web

Taken together, the records and interviews reveal the extent to which the city’s leaders failed to grapple with the enormity of the crisis. —Jessica Gallagher, New York Times, 23 May 2024

Given the enormity of the challenges, Boeing can’t afford to grant its next leader a long learning curve. —Julie Johnsson, Fortune, 16 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

enormity

noun

enor·​mi·​ty i-ˈnȯr-mət-ē 

plural enormities

1

: great wickedness

the enormity of the crime

2

: an outrageous or immoral act or offense

3

: very large size

4

: the quality of great impact or importance