Word
obscurity
Phoneticsob·scu·ri·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/əbˈskjʊɹəti/
UK/ɒbskjˈʊɹɪti/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the state of being unknown or forgotten by most people. It can also mean that something is very difficult to understand because it is not clear.
n. the state of being unknown, inconspicuous, or unimportant to the general public; alternatively, the quality of being difficult to understand due to lack of clarity. Often used to describe the career trajectory of artists or the density of a text.
Examples
“The singer lived in obscurity for years before her first hit.”
“Many brilliant scientific papers remain in obscurity because they are published in small, niche journals.”
“The poet's work was eventually rescued from obscurity by a dedicated scholar who recognized the revolutionary nature of the early manuscripts.”
Examples
simple
“The singer lived in obscurity for years before her first hit.”
contextual
“Many brilliant scientific papers remain in obscurity because they are published in small, niche journals.”
complex
“The poet's work was eventually rescued from obscurity by a dedicated scholar who recognized the revolutionary nature of the early manuscripts.”
Usage
Often follows the preposition 'in' to describe a person's social or professional status.
Real-World Examples
“Yet she had pioneered many of her enduring themes as a young artist in the 1960s before fading into temporary obscurity.” “Lawson’s Channel F, though it laid the foundation for a console with a dynamic game library, faded into obscurity.” Etymology
From Middle English obscurite, obscuryte, from Middle French obscurité and its etymon Latin obscūritās. By surface analysis, obscure + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/obscurity