obscenity
pronunciation
How to pronounce obscenity in British English:
UK [əbˈsenəti]
How to pronounce obscenity in American English:
US [ɑbˈsɛnɪti, əb-]
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- Noun:
- the trait of behaving in an obscene manner
- an offensive or indecent word or phrase
- an obscene act
Word Origin
- obscenity (n.)
- 1580s, "obscene quality," from French obscénité, from Latin obscenitatem (nominative obscenitas) "inauspiciousness, filthiness," from obscenus "offensive" (see obscene). Meaning "a foul or loathsome act" is 1610s. Sense of "an obscene utterance or word" is attested by 1690. Related: Obscenities.
Example
- 1. E-mails to potential subscribers were blocked by internet obscenity filters .
- 2. Obscenity is whatever happens to shock some elderly and ignorant magistrate .
- 3. It is the same with obscenity , hate crime and libel .
- 4. American websites enjoy broad freedom but most users support policies that forbid hate speech or obscenity , even when these are not illegal .
- 5. At first privately printed , its publication in 1960 led to the prosecution of penguin for obscenity .