enormity

[ih-nawr-mi-tee]

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

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

Martin also said he "fully understood the enormity and disappointment" of many party members.

Read more on BBC

All 34 charges came back guilty, and I spent that night's main news bulletin explaining the enormity of the idea that a former president was now a convicted felon – a first in US history.

Read more on BBC

"The notion of a 'passive bystander' was anathema to Kundanlal. If he saw something, or someone, that required attention, he attended to it, never intimidated by the enormity of the problem," writes Gupta.

Read more on BBC

Howell said the enormity of the storm was far worse than anyone alive had ever seen and that he notified residents as best he could.

Read more on Salon

Still, when he learned that he would be helming the most consequential action sequence in the history of “House of the Dragon,” he took a moment to consider the enormity of the task at hand.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• greatness 
• immensity 
• magnitude 
• vastness