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

This big band take of a song already teetering on irredeemable absurdity, wants to be lush and seductive. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025

The absurdity of ceding so much power to such a Soviet council aside, recent reporting from KCRA 3’s Ashley Zavala indicates the full council hasn’t met at all this year and hasn’t had a leader since May. —The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025

Accordingly, Water From Your Eyes’ proggy, taut, alt-rock bricolage captures a certain existential absurdity. —Jenn Pelly, Time, 4 Dec. 2025

There’s a kind of absurdity about it all. —Reshma Gopaldas, IndieWire, 4 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