Definition of blasphemy
blasphemies
1a : the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God accused of blasphemyb : 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
From the M-W Editors
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 of blasphemy from the web
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The blasphemy case has shaken Indonesia’s reputation as a stable, tolerant democracy, following decades of authoritarian rule, as politics in Southeast Asia have taken a tumultuous turn.
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The blasphemy code is empowering them and their ilk to spread extremism.
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Mr. Joarder was briefly jailed for blasphemy before the charges were withdrawn.
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The party, made up of a group including artists and computer hackers, supports a 35-hour workweek, relaxed drug regulations and the legalization of blasphemy.
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Encroaching death gives Seidel’s blasphemy a ballsy élan.
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In 2006, the Arab European League posted on its Web site a cartoon—this occurred during an earlier round of Europe’s endless, debilitating blasphemy wars—that featured a shirtless, postcoital Hitler in bed with a frightened dark-haired girl.
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Three weeks before this interview, the Lars Vilks Committee hosted a debate about art, blasphemy, and the Charlie Hebdo killings at a Copenhagen café.
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That would explain Floki's pseudo-corpsepaint, and the scene where Ragnar and his wife Lagertha offer to have a threeway with a priest, which is on a level of blasphemy that King Diamond would respect.
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The origins of blasphemy
Blasphemy came into the English language in the 13th century, and for the first several hundred years of its life had but a single meaning, “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.” By the early 17th century it began to be applied figuratively to irreverence for things held in great respect that were not necessarily divine in nature, as in the phrase, “a blasphemy against friendship.”
Blasphemy shares a root with blame; both words may be traced to the Greek blasphēmein (“to speak ill of, blaspheme"). Despite the fact that these words are connected, they have diverged sufficiently over the centuries that the meanings are now quite distinct.
Origin and Etymology of blasphemy
see blaspheme
First Known Use: 13th century
Other Christian Religious Terms
BLASPHEMY Defined for English Language Learners
blasphemy
playDefinition of blasphemy for English Language Learners
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: great disrespect shown to God or to something holy
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: something said or done that is disrespectful to God or to something holy
Law Dictionary
blasphemy
playLegal Definition of blasphemy
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
Additional Notes on blasphemy
In many states, blasphemy statutes have been repealed as contrary to the First Amendment.
Learn More about blasphemy
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for blasphemy Spanish Central: Translation of blasphemy Nglish: Translation of blasphemy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of blasphemy for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blasphemy
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