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

The volume was very loud, and all that could be heard was one profanity after another. —Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 June 2026

And profanities featured in roughly 10% of all clauses, used at a rate substantially higher than the same speakers would use while awake. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Democrats use profanity to go viral. —Nicole Russell, USA Today, 4 June 2026

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

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