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

Rather than focusing solely on superpowers, the series leans into the absurdities and insecurities of the entertainment industry, pulling back the curtain on fame, failure, and second chances. —Okla Jones, Essence, 5 Jan. 2026

Boomers get a new adaptation of their beloved sitcom One Day at a Time, Gen X and millennials can enjoy revisiting Goosebumps, Gen Z will love the absurdity of Centaurworld, and Gen Alpha can vibe out to The Tiny Chef Show. —Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026

The manifest absurdity of these claims hasn’t stopped either of the two from continuing to advance them and engage in increasingly belligerent behavior. —Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2025

But the absurdity and sincerity of Paradise is its strength. —Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 22 Dec. 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