depravity

[ dih-prav-i-tee ]

noun

, plural de·prav·i·ties.

1. the state of being depraved. depraved.
2. a depraved depraved act or practice.

depravity

/ dɪˈprævɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or an instance of moral corruption

Other Words From

• nonde·pravi·ty noun plural nondepravities

Word History and Origins

Origin of depravity¹

First recorded in 1635–45; deprave + -ity

Example Sentences

“Depravity does not adequately describe the callousness involved to kill a human being and then drive around in the victim’s own car with his body inside in order to carry out the rest of his plan,” O.C.

From Los Angeles Times

In a display of complete depravity, he lied about immigrants taking over communities and eating family pets.

From Salon

"There appears to have been no limit to the depth of depravity exhibited in the images that you were prepared to create and to distribute to others," Judge Martin Walsh said as he passed the sentence.

From BBC

As time went on, it became clear that McCartney's depravity spanned not just across the UK, but across the world.

From BBC

According to Catherine Kierans, McCartney's depravity was such that it was "one of the most distressing and prolific cases of child sexual abuse we have ever seen in the PPS".

From BBC

Related Words

• criminality
• degradation
• wickedness