Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English


profanity noun

Click to hear the UK pronunciation of this wordClick to hear the US pronunciation of this word/prəˈfæn.ɪ.ti//-ə.t ̬i/ n formal

Definition

[C or U] (an example of) showing no respect for a god or a religion, especially through language
[C] an offensive or obscene word or phrase
It was the song's opening line, a series of profanities, that caused the record to be banned on the radio station.

(Definition of profanity noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

NEW “profanity” in other dictionaries

Word of the Day

tenterhooks

worried or nervous about something that is going to happen

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More