profanity

noun pro·fan·i·ty \ prō-ˈfa-nə-tē , prə- \

Updated on: 21 May 2018

Definition of profanity

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

See profanity defined for English-language learners

See profanity defined for kids

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 of profanity from the Web

The older man, using two profanities, yelled out his car window, demanding that the other driver - later identified as the younger Cleveland man - move his vehicle.

— bob sandrick, cleveland.com, "Road rage leads to punches outside Circle K; drunk Cleveland man challenges police to fight: Berea police blotter," 10 May 2018
But the rapper uses the N word and other profanity throughout the track.

— araceli cruz, Teen Vogue, "Duke University Coffee Shop Employees Fired Following Complaint From Vice President of Student Affairs," 9 May 2018
From the safety of their computers and phones, Twitter users didn’t hold back in sending some profanity-laced smack to actors like Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston.

— stephanie petit, PEOPLE.com, "None of the Avengers Are Safe from the Hate in the Latest Round of Mean Tweets — Watch," 1 May 2018
As part of his reinstatement, Perry was required to apologize to the team for the use of profanity, insensitive language, and other commments that have created an atmosphere of fear around the team.

— nate weitzer, BostonGlobe.com, "Andover volleyball coach E.J. Perry placed on paid leave," 24 Apr. 2018
In Mississippi, among several students who were disciplined for the first offense of using profanity, black students were the only ones suspended from school, while white students received warnings and detention for substantially similar behavior.

— michael boren, Philly.com, "Black students punished more than white students in public schools, government watchdog says," 5 Apr. 2018
Nor has Amodei been bashful about the use of public profanity, something critics were happy to point out amid public outcry over a McQueen High School student who was disciplined after cursing during a phone call with the congressman’s office.

— james dehaven, USA TODAY, "Rep. Mark Amodei gets profane while talking about Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and BLM," 26 Mar. 2018
Monroy has sat quietly since the trial began last Tuesday, but Bracamontes has disrupted proceedings each day with a slew of profanities, racist slurs and promises to kill more deputies.

— sam stanton, sacbee, "He admitted to killing cops and hurled the “N-word” at jurors. Can they give him a fair trial? | The Sacramento Bee," 22 Jan. 2018
Students asked about why the schools could punish them for social media posts made off campus, whether teacher and staff should be able to use profanity with them and why the schools aren’t doing more to help seniors graduate.

— emily k. coleman, Lake County News-Sun, "'Their issues are real': Waukegan High School students raise concerns, ask questions at forum," 25 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'profanity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of profanity

1563

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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profanity Synonyms

Synonyms

curse, cuss, expletive, four-letter word, obscenity, swear, swear word, vulgarism;

Related Words

execration, imprecation, malediction;

epithet, name;

oath;

PROFANITY Defined for English Language Learners

profanity

noun

Definition of profanity for English Language Learners

: offensive language
: an offensive word

PROFANITY Defined for Kids

profanity

noun pro·fan·i·ty \ prō-ˈfa-nə-tē \

Definition of profanity for Students

plural profanities

: language that is offensive or disrespectful

Learn More about profanity

See words that rhyme with profanity Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for profanity Spanish Central: Translation of profanity Nglish: Translation of profanity for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of profanity for Arabic speakers

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profanity

Definition of profanity

Examples of profanity in a Sentence

Recent Examples of profanity from the Web

First Known Use of profanity

profanity Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

PROFANITY Defined for English Language Learners

profanity

Definition of profanity for English Language Learners

PROFANITY Defined for Kids

profanity

Definition of profanity for Students

Learn More about profanity

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profanity

Definition of profanity

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First Known Use of profanity

profanity Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

PROFANITY Defined for English Language Learners

profanity

Definition of profanity for English Language Learners

PROFANITY Defined for Kids

profanity

Definition of profanity for Students

Learn More about profanity

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