obscenity

/əbˈsɛnɪti/

Other forms: obscenities

An obscenity is a dirty word or phrase. It can also refer to the quality of being lewd, bawdy, or just plain offensive.

You know those four-letter words that everyone knows but not everyone likes to hear? The ones that will get you in trouble if you say them in school or on television? They are obscenities, which are also known as swear words. You can also say that anything offensive or inappropriate is an obscenity. This can include things that are not only dirty, but things that are offensive in other ways. Many say torture and war are obscenities.

Definitions of obscenity

1. noun

   the trait of behaving in an obscene manner
   synonyms: bawdiness, lewdness, salaciousness, salacity

   types:

   dirtiness, smuttiness

   obscenity in speech or writing

   type of:

   indecency

   the quality of being indecent
2. noun

   an offensive or indecent word or phrase
   synonyms: dirty word, filth, smut, vulgarism

   types:

   bawdry, bawdy

   lewd or obscene talk or writing

   scatology

   a preoccupation with obscenity (especially that dealing with excrement or excretory functions)

   type of:

   profanity

   vulgar or irreverent speech or action
3. noun

   an obscene act
   type of:

   impropriety, indecency

   a wrong or indecent act