turpitude
Americannoun
-
vile, shameful, or base character; depravity.
- Synonyms:
- wrongdoing, vileness, vice, wickedness
-
a vile or depraved act.
noun
Etymology
Origin of turpitude
1480–90; < Latin turpitūdō, equivalent to turpi ( s ) base, vile + -tūdō -tude
Explanation
If you are guilty of turpitude, you should be ashamed of yourself. Turpitude is a word that represents depraved behavior. Prisons are filled with criminals who have engaged in acts of moral turpitude. Turpitude comes from the Latin word turpitudo, which means "repulsiveness." Corrupt politicians get booted out of office for acts of turpitude, like taking bribes in exchange for lucrative government contracts. Turpitude often follows the word moral, and acts of moral turpitude are usually crimes that are unusually sick or corrupt.
Vocabulary lists containing turpitude
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Turpitude, tur′pi-tūd, n. baseness: extreme depravity or wickedness: vileness of principles and actions.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
