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

As stocks surge, Chanos has been warning of other market absurdities including the proliferation of Bitcoin treasury companies which raise money to buy and hold the cryptocurrency. —Glen Luke Flanagan, Fortune, 30 June 2025

In his high-energy hour, featuring plenty of material and crowd work alike, which was taped at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle, WA, Jackson tackles everything from racially questionable cookies to other everyday absurdities. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 June 2025

Gordon’s song cuts across topic areas by highlighting the dark absurdity of an ascendant political tactic: controlling policy by controlling language. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025

And the high absurdity suits the relatively low stakes behind making, respectively, sketch comedy and soulful smut. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 12 June 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