absurdity

noun

ab·​sur·​di·​ty əb-ˈsər-də-tē  -ˈzər- 

plural absurdities

1

: the quality or state of being absurd : absurdness

They laughed at the absurdity of the situation.

2

: something that is absurd

the absurdities of life

Synonyms

• asininity
• bêtise
• fatuity
• folly
• foolery
• foppery
• idiocy
• imbecility
• inanity
• insanity
• lunacy
• stupidity

Examples of absurdity in a Sentence

to say men can't cook as well as women is of course an absurdity

the absurdity of expecting a 98-year-old woman to adequately supervise four six-year-olds

Recent Examples on the Web

Corbet’s awkward forcing of his characters into his conceptual framework leads to absurdities and vulgarities—not least in the depiction of László’s first and only Black acquaintance, a laborer named Gordon (Isaach De Bankolé), as a heroin addict. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2025

Now Warning Issued To All iPhone Users The Game Awards 2024 Live Winners List, And Game Of The Year Such then is the delicate balance of accessibility and exclusivity, creativity and commerciality, genius and absurdity. —Lilian Raji, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Some bills memorably illustrated the absurdity of a system that turns ordinary mishaps into extraordinary revenues. —Elisabeth Rosenthal, NPR, 20 Dec. 2024

For me, at least, the best part of the sketch is all of the wordless expressions taking in the absurdity of everything. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English absurditee "dissonance, unjust practice," borrowed from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French absurdité, borrowed from Late Latin absurditāt-, absurditās, from Latin absurdus absurd entry 1 + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 2