profanity

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   offensive, obscene, or abusive language, especially swear words collectively

   The officer answered the accusation with a burst of profanity.

2. 2
   noun

   irreverence toward sacred things, or an act that treats them with contempt

   The congregation regarded the mock ceremony as an act of profanity.

From Late Latin profanitas ("profaneness"), based on Latin profanus ("outside the temple; not sacred"), from pro- ("before, outside") + fanum ("temple"). The language sense developed from speech regarded as irreverent or unholy.

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