/ əbˈsenəti; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ U ] obscene language or behaviour :
The editors are being prosecuted for obscenity.
the laws on obscenity
2.
[ C , usually pl. ] an obscene word or act :
She screamed a string of obscenities at the judge.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from French obscénité or Latin obscaenitas , from obscaenus ill-omened or abominable.