Absurdity

əbˈsɜːrdəti

Meaning & Definition

noun
The quality or state of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable.
The absurdity of the situation made everyone burst into laughter.
An absurd thing or an instance of absurd behavior.
His claim that he could fly was a perfect example of absurdity.
A state of foolishness or senselessness.
In the midst of the crisis, the absurdity of arguing about trivial matters became apparent.
Logical incongruity or lack of sense.
The absurdity of the laws that allowed such discrimination led to protests.

Etymology

Late Latin 'absurdus', meaning 'out of tune' or 'incongruous'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

the absurdity of life
The inherent ridiculousness and incongruences present in daily existence.
an absurdity in itself
Something that is inherently ridiculous or nonsensical on its own.
absurdity to the extreme
A situation or act that is extraordinarily ridiculous.

Related Words

absurd
Adjective describing something as nonsensical or ridiculous.
absurdist
A person or artistic movement that explores the absurd and irrational aspects of human existence.
absurdism
A philosophical perspective that emphasizes the irrationality of life.

Slang Meanings

That's absurd!
When I heard the price of that concert ticket, I thought, 'That's absurd!'
Absolute absurdity
Trying to pay with Monopoly money is absolute absurdity.