Meaning
4 senses(uncountable)Deviation from moral normality; extreme wickedness, nefariousness, or cruelty.
Not until the war ended and journalists were able to enter Cambodia did the world really become aware of the enormity of Pol Pot’s oppression.
an act of extreme wickedness
(countable)A breach of law or morality; a transgression, an act of evil or wickedness.
(proscribed, sometimes, uncountable)Great size; enormousness, hugeness, immenseness.
(countable, obsolete, uncountable)Deviation from what is normal or standard; irregularity, abnormality.
Examples
6 sentencesHe was unaware of the enormity of the offense.
The more we rant about trivialities, the more we let the enormities slide.
You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead.
This activity will aid students in internalizing the enormity of space through the use of math and inquiry skills.
What an enormity!
Translations
4 languagesOrigin
From Late Middle English ēnorme (“monstrous or unnatural act; enormity”), from Old FrenchFrom Late Middle English ēnorme (“monstrous or unnatural act; enormity”), from Old French énormité (“enormity”), from Latin ēnormitās (“irregularity; enormity”), from ēnōrmis (“irregular, unusual; enormous, immense”) + -itās (suffix forming nouns indicating states of being). Ēnōrmis is derived from e- (a variant of ex- (prefix meaning ‘out; away’) + nōrma (“norm, standard”) + -is (Latin suffix forming adjectives from nouns).
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Forms
plural: enormities| Singular | enormity |
|---|---|
| Plural | enormities |
regular
Synonyms
18 synonyms- the quality of being outrageous:outrageousness
Word family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable