obscenity

American  

[uhb-sen-i-tee, -see-ni-] / əbˈsɛn ɪ ti, -ˈsi nɪ- /

noun

obscenities plural

1. the character or quality of being obscene; indecency; lewdness.

2. something obscene, as a picture or story.

3. an obscene word or expression, especially when used as an invective.

   Synonyms:

   swear word, profanity, oath, cussword, cuss, curse word, curse

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obscenity British  

/ əbˈsɛnɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being obscene

2. an obscene act, statement, word, etc

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obscenity Cultural  

1. Behavior, appearance, or expression (such as films and books) that violate accepted standards of sexual morality. American courts have long tried to define obscenity but without much success. Some believe, for example, that any depiction of nudity is obscene; others would argue that nudity in itself is not obscene. (See four-letter words (see also four-letter words) and pornography.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antiobscenity
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• obscenities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of obscenity

First recorded in 1600–10; from French obscenité, from Latin obscēnitās, equivalent to obscēn(us) obscene + -itās -ity

Explanation

An obscenity is a dirty word or phrase. It can also refer to the quality of being lewd, bawdy, or just plain offensive. You know those four-letter words that everyone knows but not everyone likes to hear? The ones that will get you in trouble if you say them in school or on television? They are obscenities, which are also known as swear words. You can also say that anything offensive or inappropriate is an obscenity. This can include things that are not only dirty, but things that are offensive in other ways. Many say torture and war are obscenities.

Example Sentences

The coordinated effort was conducted over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and U.S. state attorneys’ offices, according to a news release.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2025

Obscenity is a rare category of material not protected by the First Amendment, and laws at a state and federal level allow its restriction.

From The Verge • Aug. 30, 2022

Obscenity charges filed against the Bollywood actress were dismissed in a Mumbai court last week, the BBC reports.

From Fox News • Jan. 26, 2022

Corpulent Grand is an American Obscenity, wickedly wealthy, bored, amoral, mischievous, and radically committed to disturbance.

From Slate • Jul. 31, 2019

Obscenity and profanity had no meaning as such among those people.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Related Words

• four-letter word
• indecency
• pornography
• profanity
• smut
• vulgarity