profanity

[pruh-fan-i-tee, proh-]

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

/ prəˈfænɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being profane

2. vulgar or irreverent action, speech, etc

Other Word Forms

• nonprofanity noun
• semiprofanity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of profanity¹

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

Example Sentences

The FBI was secretly listening last year when a high-ranking advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom unleashed a stream of profanities as she vented about a public records request from an unnamed individual.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While his version is peppered with plenty of profanity – which the BBC can't publish – part of the appeal is to make the book more accessible.

Read more on BBC

Unintentional profanity or intentional “unscripted” acts remain the unavoidable but predictably entertaining wild cards of the genre.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Asked why Clooney had intervened in the race, Hunter Biden responded with a succession of profanities about the actor.

Read more on BBC

Mr Saddiq, who is based in Douglas, South Lanarkshire, said: "As soon as I got him in, he turned round and started swearing at me. Racial profanities, all sorts of profanities."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• four-letter word 
• obscenity 
• swearing www.thesaurus.com