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 that’s the absurdity of this whole thing. —NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026

That’s the kind of hands-on absurdity that makes a road trip memorable. —Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Hailing from New Zealand, Shervey created and currently can be seen starring in Crackhead, a darkly comedic exploration of addiction, survival, and the absurdity of self-destruction. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026

Chase, meanwhile, gives Melissa a winning mix of exasperation and heart, making her emotional journey feel earned even amid the absurdity. —Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 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