obscenity

noun

ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈse-nə-tē How to pronounce obscenity (audio)
əb-,
 also  -ˈsē-
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something (such as an utterance or act) that is obscene

Examples of obscenity in a Sentence

The author uses obscenity to make a point about the culture. the song couldn't be performed on the air due to the obscenity of the lyrics
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The hip-hop stars of Coogler’s youth like NWA, Ice-T, 2 Live Crew, and Too Short were pursued by the government, accused of promoting obscenity and violence. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 2 June 2025 Children do not have a right to access alcohol, tobacco, drugs, firearms, automobiles, pornography, obscenity or any other dangerous material and public libraries have no obligation to provide it to them. Opinion Staff, Oc Register, 27 May 2025 Inevitably, the film was immediately banned in Japan, but a book containing the film’s script and a dozen stills — in an echo of the case made in Italy about Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris — was tried for obscenity. Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 May 2025 Such was the case this past weekend, as the Bronx faithful showered the $765-million man with deafening boos, taunts and obscenities. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for obscenity

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French obscenité "indecent words or images," borrowed from Latin obscēnitāt-, obscēnitās (obscaenitāt-, obscaenitās) "indecency, indecent language or behavior," from obscēnus, obscaenus "ill-omened, unpropitious, evoking disgust, indecent, lewd" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at obscene

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of obscenity was in 1589

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Cite this Entry

“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obscenity. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

obscenity

noun
ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈsen-ət-ē How to pronounce obscenity (audio)
əb-
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something that is obscene

Legal Definition

obscenity

noun
ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈse-nə-tē How to pronounce obscenity (audio)
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something (as an utterance or act) that is obscene
also : obscene material

More from Merriam-Webster on obscenity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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