noun
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the state or quality of being indecent
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an indecent act, etc
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of indecency
From the Latin word indecentia, dating back to 1580–90. See indecent, -ency
Explanation
Indecency is the habit or action of being offensive or improper. Indecency is banned on television during times that children might be watching. If you tell dirty jokes or deeply offend a friend, you could be accused of indecency. Swearing on a radio broadcast or showing an extremely violent scene in a movie meant for kids are both examples of indecency that are punishable by law. Indecency comes from the Latin word indecentem, "not decent" or "in bad taste," from the roots in-, "not," and decentem, "fitting or proper."
Vocabulary lists containing indecency
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.
See Examples For:
Playing some of these songs in public is rude and perhaps illegal indecency.
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026
But the Parents Television Council Inc. — whose members lodged thousands of indecency complaints with the Federal Communications Commission — has folded.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2025
Nor did he accept the fact that Spectrum’s planned “PG-13” performance falls far short of indecency.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2023
To quote “Now & Then” column founder Paul Dorpat, “In the moment it might take an exhausted barrister to mouth a monosyllabic indecency, the old embarrassment was leveled.”
From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2023
Against that indecency I protested, and in doing so perhaps I used stronger language than was advisable.
From Recollections of a Varied Life by Eggleston, George Cary
“Even those who think themselves inured to the indecencies of modern fiction will find much of ‘The Tin Drum’ excessively nasty.
From New York Times ● Apr. 13, 2015
It is the sad fate of all open-air statues to have to submit to certain indecencies.
From Time Magazine Archive
The Journal announced itself horrified by the "cigaret-soaked indecencies" of the naughty '90s, and peddled the theory that tight-laced corsets were responsible for gallstones.
From Time Magazine Archive
We go on using the same old seven––well, indecencies.
From The Cup of Fury A Novel of Cities and Shipyards by Raleigh, Henry
The indecencies now practiced in the name of art and the drama are enough to make the immortal William turn in his grave.
From Frank Merriwell's New Comedian The Rise of a Star by Standish, Burt L.
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.
