absurd

1 of 2

adjective

ab·​surd əb-ˈsərd  -ˈzərd 

1

: ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous

an absurd argument

: extremely silly or ridiculous

absurd humor

2

: having no rational or orderly relationship to human life : meaningless

an absurd universe

also : lacking order or value

an absurd existence

3

: dealing with the absurd (see absurd entry 2) or with absurdism

absurd theater

absurdly adverb

absurdness noun

absurd

2 of 2

noun

: the state or condition in which human beings exist in an irrational and meaningless universe and in which human life has no ultimate meaning

—usually used with the

the theater of the absurd

Did you know?

Surd and Absurd

Both surd and its more common cousin absurd come from the Latin word surdus, meaning "unhearing, deaf, muffled, or dull." Absurd traveled through Middle French before arriving in English in the early 16th century. A few decades after its arrival, surd was adopted directly from Latin as a noun used in mathematical contexts to refer to an irrational root, such as √3. By the early 17th century surd had gained a more general application as an adjective describing something that is irrational or otherwise lacks sense, a meaning still in use:

While the grandparents might scratch their heads at the Star Wars references, the actors and perhaps some younger parents likely delighted in manic, jumbled and surd structure of the play.
—Patrick Clement, The Kiowa County Signal (Greensburg, Kansas), 23 Jan. 2013

The adjective surd also describes speech sounds that are not voiced—for example, the \p\ sound, as opposed to the voiced \b\.

Absurd is of course seen far more frequently. It stresses a lack of logical sense or harmonious agreement, of parts (such as a premise and a conclusion) not fitting together. In philosophy, it describes the problem of trying to distill meaning from one's experiences. In A Discourse on Novelty and Creation (1975), Carl R. Hausman writes, "There is an incongruity, an inconsistency, a conflict with a context that appears as lawful, orderly experience. As [Albert] Camus points out, absurdity 'springs from a comparison,' a comparison between two aspects of reality which seem to be out of harmony."

Synonyms

Adjective

• bizarre
• crazy
• fanciful
• fantastic
• fantastical
• foolish
• insane
• nonsensical
• preposterous
• unreal
• wild

Examples of absurd in a Sentence

Adjective

In an era when federal judges issue rulings that in their impact often rival the lawmaking of any legislature in the land, it is increasingly absurd that their proceedings should remain off-limits to the same wider public scrutiny that news cameras have brought to courts in 48 states. —Editor & Publisher, 14 July 2003

By the time Showalter was fired one day after the end of last season, the stories of how he carried his attention to detail to absurd lengths—including his insistence that the A on the players' socks be completely visible—had been well circulated. —Phil Taylor, Sports Illustrated, 30 July 2001

This criticism, patently absurd to anyone who has read even a handful of Updike's more than 40 books, nevertheless has been made so often that it is worth Pritchard's long rebuttal. —Jonathan Wilson, New York Times Book Review, 24 Sept. 2000

Yet from time to time, virtually every parent falls back on threats, often absurd ones that leave Mom and Dad feeling foolish and the problem unresolved. —Dorothy Foltz-Gray, Parenting, December/January 1996

The charges against him are obviously absurd.

absurd claims of having been abducted by UFO's

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But the series, like the film, shows that vampires are also multidimensional — vulnerable, emotional, funny, absurd — and completely out of place in the modern world. —Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024

Photo: Their lives often appear dramatic and borderline absurd. —Daisy Jones, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2024

But Democrats on the court called that reasoning absurd. —Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 9 Dec. 2024

In a subsequent email, Sadat said she was deeply frustrated by two issues in this seemingly absurd situation. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Middle French absurde, going back to Old French absorde, borrowed from Latin absurdus "out of tune, uncouth, inappropriate, ridiculous," from ab- ab- + surdus "unhearing, deaf, muffled, dull" — more at surd entry 1

Noun

borrowed from French (l')absurde, derivative of absurde absurd entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1946, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing absurd

• the absurd
• theater of the absurd

Kids Definition

absurd

adjective

ab·​surd

əb-ˈsərd,

-ˈzərd

: completely unreasonable or untrue : ridiculous

absurdity

-ˈsərd-ət-ē

-ˈzərd-

noun

absurdly adverb

absurdness noun