obscurity

noun

ob·​scu·​ri·​ty äb-ˈskyu̇r-ə-tē 

əb-

plural obscurities

1

: one that is obscure

… peppered with quotes from … heavy hitters, as well as some downright obscurities.

—Penelope Green

2

: the quality or state of being obscure

novels that have faded into obscurity

Synonyms of obscurity

• ambiguity
• ambiguousness
• mysteriousness

Examples of obscurity in a Sentence

In recent years, the tradition has emerged from obscurity.

He has been living in relative obscurity in a small town in the mountains.

After a promising first novel, she faded into obscurity.

Recent Examples on the Web

Well-known during his lifetime as a painter of grisailles, van Uylenburgh fell into obscurity after his death, which took place around 1627. — News Desk, Artforum, 19 Aug. 2026

Pat Oleszko, a 79-year-old performance artist who makes brash inflatables, began the year in obscurity and greeted the spring as a rock star. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Who Have Never Known Men existed in relative obscurity until 2022, when the English translation was reissued by Transit Books and its cause taken up by BookTok. — Air Mail, 15 Aug. 2026

Some of the coverage may be ugly and unfair, but isn’t obscurity worse? — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English obscurite, borrowed from Anglo-French oscurté, obscurité, borrowed from Latin obscūritāt-, obscūritās, from obscūrus "dim, dark, imperfectly known, concealed from knowledge, incomprehensible" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at obscure entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for obscurity

• impurity
• maturity
• security
• biosecurity
• cybersecurity
• immaturity
• insecurity
• prematurity
• purity
• surety

Kids Definition

obscurity

noun

ob·​scu·​ri·​ty äb-ˈskyu̇r-ət-ē 

əb-

plural obscurities

1

: something that is obscure

2

: the quality or state of being obscure