enormity

American  

[ih-nawr-mi-tee] / ɪˈnɔr mɪ ti /

noun

plural

enormities

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

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enormity British  

/ 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

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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 )

Commonly Confused

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.

Etymology

Origin of enormity

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

Example Sentences

There are no clouds and the mountains, McKinley on the right, tower over us in dazzling white enormity, filling the sky while the sun warms our backs and the dogs settle into running.

From Literature

Still, America knows little of Glass’ operatic enormity.

From Los Angeles Times

"Instead of being dumbstruck by the enormity of it, we can actually make progress toward an answer about why we're here in the universe."

From Science Daily

And in that moment, I felt the enormity of it all in a way that I never had before in a simulation.

From Literature

In an effort to show how serious Plaid was taking the challenge, ap Iorwerth said the "enormity" of the task ahead of them can "all feel daunting at times".

From BBC

Related Words

• greatness
• immensity
• magnitude
• vastness