obscenity

noun

ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈse-nə-tē How to pronounce obscenity (audio)
əb-,
 also  -ˈsē-
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something (such as an utterance or act) that is obscene

Examples of obscenity in a Sentence

The author uses obscenity to make a point about the culture. the song couldn't be performed on the air due to the obscenity of the lyrics
Recent Examples on the Web DeHart fired one more round before yelling obscenities and driving away. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2024 In addition to changing obscenity laws, some states are moving ahead with legislation that would make library board elections more frequent and create committees to process requests to move materials. Joe Kottke, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2024 At the same time, a mob of angry white people snarls, yells obscenities, and hurls glass bottles at them. Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Feb. 2024 Flynt was kicked out of his own argument at the Supreme Court after shouting obscenities at the justices. Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2024 In the meantime, federal laws such as obscenity statutes may be used to prosecute cases, the NYT reported. Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 31 Jan. 2024 The city charges allege Ponds yelled and screamed obscenities at the manager inside a crowded bar and jumped over the bar to grab her credit card back. Glenn E. Rice, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2024 Crowds of protesters gather outside most nights, blasting music through concert speakers and shouting obscenities through bullhorns. Judith Sudilovsky, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024 According to the criminal complaint, surveillance video showed Swenson outside the house at Birmingham Street and Idaho Avenue about 9 a.m., yelling obscenities and hitting the garage door with a pipe. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obscenity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French obscenité "indecent words or images," borrowed from Latin obscēnitāt-, obscēnitās (obscaenitāt-, obscaenitās) "indecency, indecent language or behavior," from obscēnus, obscaenus "ill-omened, unpropitious, evoking disgust, indecent, lewd" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at obscene

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of obscenity was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near obscenity

Cite this Entry

“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obscenity. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

obscenity

noun
ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈsen-ət-ē How to pronounce obscenity (audio)
əb-
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something that is obscene

Legal Definition

obscenity

noun
ob·​scen·​i·​ty äb-ˈse-nə-tē How to pronounce obscenity (audio)
plural obscenities
1
: the quality or state of being obscene
2
: something (as an utterance or act) that is obscene
also : obscene material

More from Merriam-Webster on obscenity

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