blasphemy

American  

[blas-fuh-mee] / ˈblæs fə mi /

noun

plural

blasphemies

1. impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things.

   Synonyms:

   impiety, sacrilege, profanity

2. Judaism.

   1. an act of cursing or reviling God.

   2. pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) in the original, now forbidden manner instead of using a substitute pronunciation such as Adonai.

3. Theology. the crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God.

4. irreverent behavior toward anything held sacred, priceless, etc..

   He uttered blasphemies against life itself.

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blasphemy British  

/ ˈblæsfɪmɪ /

noun

1. blasphemous behaviour or language

2. Also called: blasphemous libel.  law the crime committed if a person insults, offends, or vilifies the deity, Christ, or the Christian religion

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Other Word Forms

• nonblasphemy noun

Etymology

Origin of blasphemy

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English blasphemie, from Late Latin blasphēmia, from Greek, equivalent to blasphem(ous) + -y ³

Example Sentences

She also represented those accused of blasphemy -- an incendiary charge -- as well as Afghans who face crackdowns by the authorities.

From Barron's

She also represented those accused of blasphemy -- an incendiary charge in Pakistan -- as well as Afghans who face crackdowns by the authorities.

From Barron's

Nigeria's Supreme Court has in the past ruled that blasphemy allegations must be proven in a court of law.

From BBC

There cannot be, since blasphemy depends on the acknowledgment of the sacred.

From Salon

Judge McGarva said he did not view the case as an attempt to expand blasphemy laws.

From BBC

Related Words

• desecration
• heresy