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

Synonyms of profanity

• curse
• language
• swear
• expletive
• obscenity
• cuss
• vulgarism

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

Ball ended up being fined $60,000 for his actions during the game ($35,000 for the foul, $25,000 for postgame profanity on TV) and assessed a flagrant foul. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 16 Apr. 2026

He was fined $25,000 for using profanity in an on-court postgame interview. —Steve Reed, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026

At one point, a man appears to emerge from the home and yell profanities in Spanish in the direction of the dump truck. —Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026

His use of profanities pepper his Truth Social messages. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for profanity

• humanity
• inanity
• insanity
• urbanity
• christianity
• inhumanity
• sanity
• vanity

Kids 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