Obscurity

/əbˈskjʊrɪti/

Meaning & Definition

noun
The state of being unknown, inconspicuous, or little-known.
The artist lived in obscurity for many years before becoming famous.
Something that is difficult to understand or interpret.
The obscurity of the text made it challenging for students to analyze.
The quality of being obscure; vagueness.
His thoughts were wrapped in obscurity, making them hard to decipher.

Etymology

Latin 'obscuritas', from 'obscurus' meaning 'dark, dim, obscure'

Common Phrases and Expressions

in obscurity
living a life that is not known or recognized by many
rise from obscurity
to become well-known after being previously unknown
obscurity of language
the difficulty in understanding language due to complexity or ambiguity

Related Words

obscure
not discovered or known about; uncertain
ambiguity
the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; vagueness
enigmatic
difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious

Slang Meanings

under the radar
He prefers to stay under the radar, living in obscurity.
out of the limelight
She enjoys being out of the limelight, embracing the obscurity of her lifestyle.