enormity

[ ih-nawr-mi-tee ]

noun

, plural e·nor·mi·ties

1. outrageous or heinous character; atrociousness:

   the enormity of war crimes.

   Synonyms: heinousness, monstrousness

2. something outrageous or heinous, as an offense:

   The bombing of the defenseless population was an enormity beyond belief.

3. greatness of size, scope, extent, or influence; immensity:

   The enormity of such an act of generosity is staggering.

   Synonyms: vastness, hugeness

enormity

/ ɪˈnɔːmɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality or character of being outrageous; extreme wickedness
2. an act of great wickedness; atrocity
3. informal.
   vastness of size or extent

Usage

In modern English, it is common to talk about the enormity of something such as a task or a problem, but one should not talk about the enormity of an object or area: distribution is a problem because of India's enormous size (not India's enormity )

Confusables Note

Enormity has been in frequent and continuous use in the sense “immensity” since the 18th century: The enormity of the task was overwhelming. Some hold that enormousness is the correct word in that sense and that enormity can only mean “outrageousness” or “atrociousness”: The enormity of his offenses appalled the public. Enormity occurs regularly in edited writing with the meanings both of great size and of outrageous or horrifying character, behavior, etc. Many people, however, continue to regard enormity in the sense of great size as nonstandard.

Word History and Origins

Origin of enormity¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English enormite, from Middle French, from Latin ēnormitās; enorm, -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of enormity¹

C15: from Old French enormite, from Late Latin ēnormitās hugeness; see enormous

Example Sentences

Given the enormity of the task at hand, we need to function like an ecosystem, finding strength in our diversity.

From Time

One is the way that these enormous companies make the money, and then the enormity of these enormous companies.

From MIT Technology Review

When Gates directed his focus to philanthropy two decades ago, he also seized attention, wielding outsize influence in the areas where the foundation gives due to the enormity of his wealth.

From Washington Post

Progressives worry that neither proposal is ambitious enough to address the enormity of the problem.

From Time

We’re not going to stop causing the enormity of harms we do to animals because we care about chickens and pigs—it’s going to be because we create a new technology that renders the current system obsolete.

From MIT Technology Review

To look at her in tears was to behold the enormity of her loss.

From The Daily Beast

It was an objective test that, for the first time, let the enormity of the drug problem in America rear its ugly head.

From The Daily Beast

A real-life drama proving the enormity of what just one bullet can do continued to unfold.

From The Daily Beast

Even if it was a crutch, the Biblical language in these older writings did justice to the enormity of the forces at play.

From The Daily Beast

And what better way to rally the troops (and they're all troops, in a pinch) than by pointing out the enormity of the enemy?

From The Daily Beast

She had called the culprit to her desk just before the noon recess and now showed her the enormity of her offenses.

From Project Gutenberg

"Here, let go my hand," she added, suddenly conscious of the enormity John Sibley was committing by squeezing it now.

From Project Gutenberg

But the youth and inexperience of Riaro excused the enormity of a crime perpetrated under the sanction of the supreme pontiff.

From Project Gutenberg

It was marked in the circumstances and enormity of the crime, and marked in the subsequent good conduct of the prisoner.

From Project Gutenberg

I know that is an enormity, but I heard the Major tell of currying horses once.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• greatness
• immensity
• magnitude
• vastness