absurdity
UK /əbˈsɜːd.ɪ.ti/ · US /æbˈsɝd.ɪ.ti/ noun
Forms absurdities
- noun (countable) That which is absurd; an absurd action; a logical contradiction.
- noun (uncountable) The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment.
- noun (obsolete, rare) Dissonance.
Synonyms
Etymology
First attested around 1472. From Middle English absurdite, then from either Middle French absurdité, or from Late Latin absurditas (“dissonance, incongruity”), from Latin absurdus + -itas (“quality, state, degree”). Equivalent to absurd + -ity.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment. "The absurdity of the actual idea of an infinite number." Locke.
- noun That which is absurd; an absurd action; a logical contradiction.
Etymology [L. absurditas: cf. F. absurdite.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “absurdity”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details