obscenity

noun

ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈse-nə-tē 

əb-,

 also  -ˈsē-

plural obscenities

1

: the quality or state of being obscene

2

: something (such as an utterance or act) that is obscene

Synonyms

• bawdiness
• blueness
• coarseness
• crudeness
• crudity
• dirt
• dirtiness
• filth
• filthiness
• foulness
• grossness
• impureness
• impurity
• indecency
• lasciviousness
• lewdness
• nastiness
• profanity
• raunch
• raunchiness
• ribaldry
• smut
• smuttiness
• vulgarity
• wantonness

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

These laws could also face an uphill battle in the courts, including the Supreme Court, which have shot down certain obscenity laws as unconstitutional. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

His speech was larded with obscenity and boastfulness. —Mike Kupper, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024

The Puerto Rican National Guard even raided music stores to seize records for violating obscenity laws in the 1990s, when reggaeton was still largely underground. —Genevieve Glatsky, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024

Tate, the Republican octogenarian, wasn’t the first to utter an obscenity. —Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 3 Nov. 2024

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

Phrases Containing obscenity

• anti-obscenity

Kids Definition

obscenity

noun

ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈsen-ət-ē 

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 

plural obscenities

1

: the quality or state of being obscene

2

: something (as an utterance or act) that is obscene

also : obscene material