obscenity

noun

ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈse-nə-tē 

əb-,

 also  -ˈsē-

plural obscenities

1

: the quality or state of being obscene

2

: something (such as an utterance or act) that is obscene

Synonyms

• bawdiness
• blueness
• coarseness
• crudeness
• crudity
• dirt
• dirtiness
• filth
• filthiness
• foulness
• grossness
• impureness
• impurity
• indecency
• lasciviousness
• lewdness
• nastiness
• profanity
• raunch
• raunchiness
• ribaldry
• smut
• smuttiness
• vulgarity
• wantonness

Examples of obscenity in a Sentence

The author uses obscenity to make a point about the culture.

the song couldn't be performed on the air due to the obscenity of the lyrics

Recent Examples on the Web

Dunaway, who ended up wearing a hat to film the scene, was livid and screamed a stream of obscenities before storming off. —Jeremy Helligar, Peoplemag, 13 July 2024

How were fringe internet obscenities transubstantiated into a mass movement that stepped off the screen and barged into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021? —Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 10 July 2024

But there’s more than one kind of obscenity in the world, and more than one kind of assault. —Pat Beall, Orlando Sentinel, 7 July 2024

The complaints came in between 3:54 and 9:27 p.m. Sunday, June 23, and focused on loud music and obscenities shouted by performers and attendees. Franklin Mayor John Nelson said he was told Tacos and Tequila had about 8,000 attendees and Phase Fest had 5,900 people in attendance, per The Rock. —Erik S. Hanley, Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French obscenité "indecent words or images," borrowed from Latin obscēnitāt-, obscēnitās (obscaenitāt-, obscaenitās) "indecency, indecent language or behavior," from obscēnus, obscaenus "ill-omened, unpropitious, evoking disgust, indecent, lewd" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at obscene

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing obscenity

• anti-obscenity

Kids Definition

obscenity

noun

ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈsen-ət-ē 

əb-

plural obscenities

1

: the quality or state of being obscene

2

: something that is obscene

Legal Definition

obscenity

noun

ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈse-nə-tē 

plural obscenities

1

: the quality or state of being obscene

2

: something (as an utterance or act) that is obscene

also : obscene material