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Synonyms

profanity

American  
[pruh-fan-i-tee, proh-] / prəˈfæn ɪ ti, proʊ- /

noun

plural

profanities
  1. the quality of being profane; irreverence.

    Synonyms:
    sacrilege, blasphemy
  2. profane conduct or language; a profane act or utterance.

    Synonyms:
    curse, malediction, sacrilege, blasphemy
  3. obscenity.


profanity British  
/ prəˈfænɪtɪ /

noun

  1. the state or quality of being profane

  2. vulgar or irreverent action, speech, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nonprofanity noun
  • semiprofanity noun

Etymology

Origin of profanity

From the Late Latin word profānitās, dating back to 1600–10. See profane, -ity

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.

More recent performers have included this past year's headliner Kendrick Lamar, the rapper who cut out profanity but still performed a viral diss track of his rival Drake.

From Barron's

Anita Scuri, 75, a retired Sacramento attorney attending her third or fourth convention, suggested the party needs to get back to basics by speaking plainly — she said nothing about profanity — and focusing on people’s pocketbooks.

From Los Angeles Times

Older adults were more likely than younger adults to consider it impolite to curse out loud, visibly display profanity or wear headphones or earbuds while talking to someone in person.

From Los Angeles Times

After the game, Hill told reporters that he was not disrespectful toward the officers and did not use profanity.

From Los Angeles Times

“There was no macho profanity. There was no agenda. There was no pettiness. There was no gossip. It was, ‘How do we get to make the best decision for the best reason?’

From Seattle Times