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

The short uses stylized 3D and deadpan timing to explore routine, irritation and faint absurdity. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025

Understanding the absurdity of one trillion anything makes the $38 trillion US national debt that economists have been blathering on about for years look almost sensible. —Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025

But let’s embrace the absurdity for now and look at what the Gothams hath wrought. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025

The absurdity of the image—and the simplicity of the complaint—also sparked a flood of lighthearted responses. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

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