absurdity

noun

ab·​sur·​di·​ty əb-ˈsər-də-tē  -ˈzər- 

plural absurdities

1

: the quality or state of being absurd : absurdness

They laughed at the absurdity of the situation.

2

: something that is absurd

the absurdities of life

Synonyms of absurdity

• insanity
• idiocy

Examples of absurdity in a Sentence

to say men can't cook as well as women is of course an absurdity

the absurdity of expecting a 98-year-old woman to adequately supervise four six-year-olds

Recent Examples on the Web

And yet the absurdity didn’t stop there. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 21 June 2026

Brooks also taught Wilder how to take something funny, push it all the way to the point of absurdity, then keep going. — Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Swift will either ignore the noise as usual, or smile at the absurdity as a secure, proud childless cat lady. — Bryan West, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Activists often use humor in their signs or when highlighting the absurdity of false claims, for example. — Joe Árvai, The Conversation, 22 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English absurditee "dissonance, unjust practice," borrowed from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French absurdité, borrowed from Late Latin absurditāt-, absurditās, from Latin absurdus absurd entry 1 + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 2