enormity

American  

[ih-nawr-mi-tee] / ɪˈnɔr mɪ ti /

noun

PLURAL

enormities

1. outrageous or heinous character; atrociousness.

   the enormity of war crimes.

   Synonyms:

   heinousness , monstrousness

2. something outrageous or heinous, as an offense.

   The bombing of the defenseless population was an enormity beyond belief.

3. greatness of size, scope, extent, or influence; immensity.

   The enormity of such an act of generosity is staggering.

   Synonyms:

   vastness , hugeness

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enormity British  

/ ɪˈnɔːmɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality or character of being outrageous; extreme wickedness

2. an act of great wickedness; atrocity

3. informal  vastness of size or extent

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Usage

In modern English, it is common to talk about the enormity of something such as a task or a problem, but one should not talk about the enormity of an object or area: distribution is a problem because of India's enormous size (not India's enormity )

Commonly Confused

Enormity has been in frequent and continuous use in the sense “immensity” since the 18th century: The enormity of the task was overwhelming. Some hold that enormousness is the correct word in that sense and that enormity can only mean “outrageousness” or “atrociousness”: The enormity of his offenses appalled the public. Enormity occurs regularly in edited writing with the meanings both of great size and of outrageous or horrifying character, behavior, etc. Many people, however, continue to regard enormity in the sense of great size as nonstandard.

Etymology

Origin of enormity

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English enormite, from Middle French, from Latin ēnormitās; enorm, -ty ²

Example Sentences

The enormity of the challenge isn’t lost on Mohammad Reda Jalkhi, the new head of Syria’s National Commission for the Missing.

From The Wall Street Journal

There’s an enormity in these nighttime shots of cars isolated in the darkness, chasing after the dust in their own headlights, looking so alone they may as well be on the moon.

From Los Angeles Times

Amid the upheaval, Nehru's words stood out - a reminder of India's unfulfilled promise, and of a leader whose command of language many believe matched the enormity of the moment.

From BBC

AFP reporters witnessed residents grappling with the enormity of the disaster.

From Barron's

Any of Gein’s contemporaries who are still alive would have been too young to fully grasp the enormity of the way he desecrated the memory and bodies of their community’s loved ones.

From Salon

Related Words

• greatness
• immensity
• magnitude
• vastness