indecency

[ in-dee-suhn-see ]

noun

, plural in·de·cen·cies

1. the quality or condition of being indecent.
2. impropriety or immodesty.
3. obscenity or indelicacy.
4. an indecent act, remark, etc.

indecency

/ ɪnˈdiːsənsɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being indecent
2. an indecent act, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of indecency¹

From the Latin word indecentia, dating back to 1580–90. See indecent, -ency

Example Sentences

Stephen Close, now 62, was convicted of the sexual offence of gross indecency after kissing another man while stationed in Berlin in the 1980s.

From BBC

Yet within the span of a couple of hours Tuesday, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris traveled between their studios in Manhattan to sit down for lengthy interviews, an odd juxtaposition of a television show initially viewed as a ladies-who-lunch klatch and a radio host who became famous because of pornographic, misogynistic and at times racist diatribes that led to millions of dollars in indecency fines from the federal government.

From Los Angeles Times

The charges included indecent assault and gross indecency with or towards a child.

From BBC

After interrogation and a "humiliating and degrading medical examination", Mr Close was convicted of gross indecency - a sexual offence - over the kiss, discharged from the Army and sent to military prison for four months.

From BBC

The offences, which include indecent assault and gross indecency with or towards a child, are alleged to have been committed on dates between 1964 and 1991.

From BBC

Related Words

• drunkenness
• impropriety