mänzˈträsəd.ē, -n(t)ˈst-, -ətē, -i noun
( -es )
Etymology: Late Latin monstrositas, from Latin monstrosus, monstruosus monstrous (from monstrum monster + -osus -ous) + -itas -ity — more at monster
1.
a. : a malformation of a plant or animal
b. : something showing deviation from the normal
whatever a woman has of intelligence and worth … is to be excised as a superfluous growth, a monstrosity — Mary Austin
c. : freak 3b
2. obsolete : monster 3a
3. : the quality or state of being monstrous
to be lost … does not imply any uncommonness of vice or monstrosity of wickedness — A.B.Davidson
4.
a. : an object of terrifying size or force or complexity
at night, we steamed through a lane of … monstrosities of ice — H.A.Chippendale
the invention of the atomic bomb and the moral issues in … creating this monstrosity — Harrison Smith
an effective start was made in cleaning up the political and economic monstrosity which passes as our federal tax system — D.A.Reed
b. : an excessively bad or shocking example : a hideous thing
the day of bigness … resulted in some real monstrosities of landscape art — R.M.Coates
a monstrosity of a Victorian chaise longue — M.R.Ridley