# blasphemy

/ˈbɫæsfəmi/ (US) · /blˈɑːsfəmi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blasphemy
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. religious disrespect

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

saying or doing something that is very disrespectful to a god or a religion.

For teachers: the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for a deity or sacred things. Often used in legal or theological contexts.

- In some historical periods, writing books that questioned the church was punished as blasphemy.
- The medieval scholar was accused of blasphemy after he published a treatise that challenged the established interpretation of the holy texts.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the concept; countable when referring to specific acts or statements.

Teaching tip: While primarily a religious term, it is often used figuratively in modern English to describe an attack on any highly respected idea.

### 2. disrespecting a convention

noun · CEFR C2 · Humorous · Informal

doing something that goes against a rule or idea that most people respect very much.

For teachers: an act of disregarding or showing contempt for a standard, convention, or something considered inviolable within a specific community.

- For a traditional Italian chef, putting pineapple on pizza is a form of blasphemy.
- To the purists in the audience, the director's decision to set the Shakespearean play in a modern office was nothing short of blasphemy.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'to' or 'against'.

Teaching tip: In this sense, the word is usually hyperbolic and used to express strong personal or professional disapproval rather than literal religious offense.

## Examples

- In some cultures, speaking against the local religion is considered blasphemy.
- The artist faced intense public criticism and legal threats for what many religious leaders called an act of blasphemy.
- To the traditionalists in the physics department, suggesting that the fundamental laws of gravity were incorrect felt like scientific blasphemy.

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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.