profanity
noun
pro·fan·i·ty
prō-ˈfa-nə-tē 
prə-
plural profanities
1
a
: the quality or state of being profane
b
: the use of profane language
2
a
: profane language
b
: an utterance of profane language
Examples of profanity in a Sentence
The comic uses too much profanity.
My mom will not tolerate profanity.
I have never heard my father utter a single profanity.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are among the more tame messages — many are laced with profanity and references to violence.
—
Maven Navarro
june 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026
Chapin, the mechanic on the Shawmut crew, was a wiry 6-footer with a winking sense of humor and a penchant for machine-shop patter peppered with gleeful profanity, a likable 26-year-old who’d been a reliable factory hand and test driver before the fire.
—Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
This post cannot go live with full-bore profanity.
—Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026
In the video, the man can be heard screaming profanities while holding a baseball bat outside the window before getting out of the car and approaching the couple.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Maven Navarro
june 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2026
Chapin, the mechanic on the Shawmut crew, was a wiry 6-footer with a winking sense of humor and a penchant for machine-shop patter peppered with gleeful profanity, a likable 26-year-old who’d been a reliable factory hand and test driver before the fire.
—Eric Moskowitz, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026
This post cannot go live with full-bore profanity.
—Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026
In the video, the man can be heard screaming profanities while holding a baseball bat outside the window before getting out of the car and approaching the couple.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Cite this Entry
“Profanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profanity. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
profanity
noun
pro·fan·i·ty
prō-ˈfan-ət-ē
prə-
plural profanities
1
: the quality or state of being profane
2
: profane language
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