obscenity

noun

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

Synonyms of obscenity

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
My main point is not just that there's lots of obscenity in both, but also lots of poetics in both. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Now, as some have noted, there are Supreme Court precedents that have already held that broadcasters don’t have complete free speech rights around things like, for example, obscenity. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026 The obscenity charges stemmed from performances at The Troubadour nightclub on Santa Monica Boulevard and The Unicorn coffeehouse on the Sunset Strip. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Since the middle of the twentieth century, societies around the globe have undergone a collective revolution in standards and attitudes towards obscenity and immorality. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obscenity

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

Phrases Containing obscenity

Rhymes for obscenity

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Browse Nearby Words

obsceneness
obscenity
obscurant
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Cite this Entry

“Obscenity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obscenity. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obscenity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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