blasphemy

noun

blas·​phe·​my ˈblas-fə-mē 

plural blasphemies

1

a

: the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God

accused of blasphemy

b

: the act of claiming the attributes of a deity

for a mere man to suggest that he was … divine could only be viewed … as blasphemy

—John Bright †1889

2

: irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between blasphemy and heresy?

Blasphemy, in a religious sense, refers to great disrespect shown to God or to something holy, or to something said or done that shows this kind of disrespect; heresy refers a belief or opinion that does not agree with the official belief or opinion of a particular religion. Both words are also sometimes used in general, not necessarily religious, contexts.

What is the verb form of blasphemy?

The verb form of blasphemy is blaspheme, as in "those who blaspheme God." It comes to English from the Late Latin word blasphemare.

Does blasphemy have to be spoken?

Although in certain senses of the word it may be more common to use blasphemy in reference to speech, it may also be applied to writing. The word has broadened in meaning beyond "the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God"; it is now also used with the meaning "irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable."

Synonyms

• defilement
• desecration
• impiety
• irreverence
• profanation
• sacrilege

Examples of blasphemy in a Sentence

She was condemned by the church for uttering blasphemies.

in the 17th century the Quakers were persecuted for beliefs and practices that older churches regarded as blasphemies

Recent Examples on the Web

While Christians born into the faith are free to practice, Iran’s Shariah laws state that abandoning Islam for another religion is considered blasphemy, punishable by death. —Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025

So too do the French disagree on the limits of satire and blasphemy, despite their honored places in French culture. —Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Jan. 2025

Does this sound like blasphemy? —Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025

Five Christian groups filed complaints to Indonesian police alleging blasphemy, leading to Thalisa’s arrest on October 8. —Jack Guy, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see blaspheme

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

blasphemy

noun

blas·​phe·​my ˈblas-fə-mē 

plural blasphemies

: great disrespect shown to God or to sacred persons or things

blasphemous

-məs

adjective

blasphemously adverb

blasphemousness noun

Legal Definition

blasphemy

noun

blas·​phe·​my ˈblas-fə-mē 

plural blasphemies

: the crime of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or a religion and its doctrines and writings and especially God as perceived by Christianity and Christian doctrines and writings

Note: In many states, blasphemy statutes have been repealed as contrary to the First Amendment.