licentiousness

[lahy-sen-shuhs-nis]

noun

1. a throwing off of sexual restraint; lewd character or behavior.

   The Hays Code tried to stamp out all lust and licentiousness in American film.

2. wanton disregard or transgression of laws, rules, or moral norms.

   Freedom entails responsibilities, or else it degenerates into licentiousness.

Other Word Forms

• nonlicentiousness noun
• overlicentiousness noun
• unlicentiousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of licentiousness¹

licentious ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )