Word
absurdity
Phoneticsab·sur·di·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/əbˈsɝdəti/
UK/ɐbsˈɜːdɪti/
Definitions
01the quality of being ridiculous
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the state of being completely silly, unreasonable, or impossible to believe.
n. the quality or state of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable. Uncountable in this abstract sense.
“He laughed at the absurdity of the situation when he realized he was wearing two different shoes.”
“The sheer absurdity of the proposal was evident to everyone in the room, yet no one felt comfortable pointing out its logical flaws.”
Synonyms
02an illogical act or statement
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that is said or done that is totally illogical or makes no sense.
n. a specific act, statement, or situation that is inconsistent with reason or common sense. Countable in this usage.
“The new law was full of absurdities that made it impossible for small businesses to follow.”
“The critic spent most of the review highlighting the various absurdities in the plot that rendered the film's climax unbelievable.”
Synonyms
Usage
Functions as an uncountable noun when referring to the general quality; functions as a countable noun when referring to a specific instance or act.
Real-World Examples
“Overall, most of the jokes address everyday issues and the absurdities of life.” “He exists in a very small world, but it’s all filtered through a lot of absurdity and surrealism.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/absurdity