indecency

American  

[in-dee-suhn-see] / ɪnˈdi sən si /

noun

indecencies plural

1. the quality or condition of being indecent.

2. impropriety or immodesty.

3. obscenity or indelicacy.

4. an indecent act, remark, etc.

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indecency British  

/ ɪnˈdiːsənsɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being indecent

2. an indecent act, etc

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• indecencies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of indecency

From the Latin word indecentia, dating back to 1580–90. See indecent, -ency

Explanation

Indecency is the habit or action of being offensive or improper. Indecency is banned on television during times that children might be watching. If you tell dirty jokes or deeply offend a friend, you could be accused of indecency. Swearing on a radio broadcast or showing an extremely violent scene in a movie meant for kids are both examples of indecency that are punishable by law. Indecency comes from the Latin word indecentem, "not decent" or "in bad taste," from the roots in-, "not," and decentem, "fitting or proper."

Example Sentences

Playing some of these songs in public is rude and perhaps illegal indecency.

From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026

Arregui is a principled revolutionary dedicated to his cause, while Molina is a gay, flamboyant window dresser who’s been arrested for public indecency.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2025

In the 1960s, homosexuality was partially decriminalised, but related criminal offences were still illegal, including gross indecency.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2024

Nor did he accept the fact that Spectrum’s planned “PG-13” performance falls far short of indecency.

From Slate • Sep. 22, 2023

If therefore they apologized for what the sensational moralists blamed, they did it in good faith, not as excusing the indecency, but as surmounting it.

From Transcendentalism in New England A History by Frothingham, Octavius Brooks

Related Words

• drunkenness
• impropriety