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
According to a 2020 study in the International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, the number of profanities in songs on the Billboard Top 100 charts rose from less than 200 per year in 2009 to more than 700 per year in 2018.
—
Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
This story references profanity and may be offensive to some readers.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
Her closing line was audible in the room and in unedited online footage, though the broadcast censored the profanity.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Ellis then claimed that Cardi cut her face with a fingernail and spat on her while yelling profanity and racial slurs at Ellis.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
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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Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
This story references profanity and may be offensive to some readers.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025
Her closing line was audible in the room and in unedited online footage, though the broadcast censored the profanity.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Ellis then claimed that Cardi cut her face with a fingernail and spat on her while yelling profanity and racial slurs at Ellis.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for profanity
Cite this Entry
“Profanity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profanity. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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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