obscenity

Everyday

1. A very rude or offensive word, especially a swear word. tree →
2. Something shockingly offensive or rude. tree →
3. Something morally shocking or wrong, as in "War is an obscenity" or "the obscenity of hunger in a rich world". tree →

In the lessons

Used in news, law and formal speech ("He shouted obscenities") and in ethics and politics to say something is deeply wrong. At school and in public, obscenities are not allowed. Phrases: "shout obscenities", "an obscenity".

Examples

• The angry driver shouted obscenities out of the window. tree →
• Obscenities are not allowed in the school playground. tree →
• The referee sent off the player for using an obscenity. tree →
• The newspaper said wasting food while people starve is an obscenity. tree →
• The graffiti was full of obscenities, so the council cleaned it off. tree →
• Some people think huge bonuses are an obscenity. tree →

Note

Countable for single words ("obscenities"); uncountable for the quality. Adjective "obscene". Formal; everyday word: "swear word". Pronounced "ob-SEN-it-ee".