# abstrusity

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abstrusity
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

the quality of being very difficult to understand. You use this to describe things that are so complex or strange they are hard to explain.

For teachers: the quality of being obscure, difficult to understand, or difficult to explain. Often used to describe abstract or highly technical subjects.

## Examples

- The professor's lecture was full of abstrusity.
- The legal documents were so full of abstrusity that even the lawyers had to consult a dictionary.
- The philosopher's later works are often dismissed for their abstrusity, though they contain profound insights into the nature of human consciousness.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.