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

• 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

In terms that viewers of the original series might understand, Esmeralda falls somewhere between the tyranny of Michael Scott, the absurdity of Dwight Schrute, and the self-involvement of Kelly Kapoor with a particular charisma that only Impacciatore could pull off. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025

Still, Daniels and Koman drew on real research to capture the rhythms and absurdities of newsroom life. —Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

The joke density is lethally calibrated between the writing, direction, performances, reactions, and heightened absurdity of any mundane situation. —Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025

This maximalism, in one form or another, seems to be the hallmark of every dish at Lex Yard, sometimes to the point of absurdity. —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 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