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Sodom

American  
[sod-uhm] / ˈsɒd əm /

noun

  1. an ancient city destroyed, with Gomorrah, because of its wickedness. Genesis 18–19.

  2. any very sinful, corrupt, vice-ridden place.


Sodom British  
/ ˈsɒdəm /

noun

  1. Old Testament a city destroyed by God for its wickedness that, with Gomorrah, traditionally typifies depravity (Genesis 19:24)

  2. this city as representing homosexuality

  3. any place notorious for depravity

"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

Etymology

Origin of Sodom

From Late Latin Sodoma (neuter plural noun), from Greek Sódoma (neuter plural noun), from Hebrew Sĕdōm, of uncertain origin and meaning

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:

They released one more album, 1984's This Last Night In Sodom, before dissolving the band to concentrate on other projects.

From BBC Oct. 23, 2025

In the 1970s, San Francisco became a welcoming home for tens of thousands of new gay residents—and a modern-day Sodom for the American right.

From Slate May 22, 2024

Abraham was said to have bargained for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

From Seattle Times Apr. 7, 2023

Krasnostein noted the irony of this troupe of godly people serenading the sinners of Sodom and Gomorrah, but found their voices enchanting.

From Washington Post Mar. 11, 2022

I read all about Sodom and Gomorrah, had questions about the nature of brimstone.

From "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by emily m. danforth

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