Word
indecency
Phoneticsin·de·cen·cy, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈdisənsi/
UK/ˌɪndˈiːsənsi/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. behavior that shocks people because it breaks accepted rules about what is proper, especially about sex or the body.
n. behavior or language that violates accepted standards of moral propriety, especially concerning sexual conduct or exposure. Frequently contrasted with decency as its direct opposite.
Examples
“The TV channel avoids indecency before nine o'clock.”
“The comedian was warned that his jokes bordered on indecency for a family show.”
“The trial turned on whether the photographs constituted artistic expression or indecency under a statute written long before digital media blurred public and private boundaries.”
Examples
simple
“The TV channel avoids indecency before nine o'clock.”
contextual
“The comedian was warned that his jokes bordered on indecency for a family show.”
complex
“The trial turned on whether the photographs constituted artistic expression or indecency under a statute written long before digital media blurred public and private boundaries.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “indecency” in context.
Verb
01. charge with indecency
“Police charged the man with indecency after the incident on the train.”
verb + prep + noun
02. commit indecency
“He was accused of committing indecency in a public toilet.”
verb + noun
03. condemn indecency
“Church leaders were quick to condemn indecency on prime-time television.”
verb + noun
04. convict of indecency
“He was convicted of indecency and placed on the sex offenders register.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
05. flagrant indecency
“Critics condemned the performance as flagrant indecency on live television.”
adj + noun
06. gross indecency
“The actor was jailed in the 1950s for gross indecency under old laws.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. accusation of indecency
“He resigned after an accusation of indecency appeared in the press.”
noun + prep + noun
08. act of indecency
“The court ruled that his behaviour constituted an act of indecency.”
noun + prep + noun
09. border on indecency
“Some viewers felt the comedian's jokes bordered on indecency.”
10. charged with gross indecency
“In 1952, the mathematician was charged with gross indecency.”
11. commit an act of indecency
“He was arrested for committing an act of indecency on the beach.”
12. convicted of public indecency
“She was convicted of public indecency and fined £500.”
Usage
Uncountable for the general quality; countable when referring to specific acts ('several indecencies').
Real-World Examples
“Their ambitions come after a turbulent year at home, during which the band were prosecuted for public indecency over their outfits and dance moves during a concert in Istanbul.” “On Tuesday, a federal lawsuit was initiated that contests the indecency regulations in Fort Collins, which criminalize the exposure of women's nipples while allowing men to do so without restriction.” Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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