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obscénité

obscenity, obscene act or word

noun ob-seh-nee-TEH Rare
Communication Language

Usage Note

Obscénité refers both to an obscene act or image and to an obscene word or phrase — context distinguishes the two. The plural des obscénités very commonly means 'obscenities' in the verbal sense ('to shout obscenities'). The adjective is obscène and the adverb is obscènement. It is a formal register word even when describing crude content.

Examples

"Ce film contient des scènes d'une grande obscénité."

Natural Translation

This film contains scenes of great obscenity.

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