foulness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal or Literary
Quick answer
What does “foulness” mean?
The state of being extremely unpleasant or disgusting, especially due to dirt, smell, or moral corruption.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state of being extremely unpleasant or disgusting, especially due to dirt, smell, or moral corruption.
1. The property of being offensive to the senses, particularly smell or taste. 2. The state of being wicked or morally reprehensible. 3. In sports, the act of committing an illegal or unfair move. 4. Unpleasant or stormy weather conditions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'foulness' is more commonly used to describe physical unpleasantness (smell, taste) and occasionally as a place name (Foulness Island). In American English, the moral and sporting senses (wickedness, a foul in basketball) are slightly more prevalent.
Connotations
In both dialects, it carries strong negative connotations of disgust and offensiveness.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both dialects, more common in written than spoken English.
Grammar
How to Use “foulness” in a Sentence
the foulness of [something][something] of great foulnessVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foulness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The striker was sent off for fouling an opponent.
- The scandal has fouled the company's reputation.
American English
- The pitcher fouled off the bunt attempt.
- Industrial waste fouled the river.
adverb
British English
- The deal was foully executed, with many lies told.
American English
- He was treated foully by his former allies.
adjective
British English
- There was a foul smell coming from the drains.
- He was in a foul mood all morning.
American English
- The referee called a foul on the play.
- We had to cancel due to foul weather.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. May appear in reports on environmental conditions or ethical breaches.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, history (describing medieval conditions), and ethics discussions.
Everyday
Infrequent. Used for strong emphasis on something being extremely unpleasant.
Technical
Used in environmental science to describe air/water quality, and in sports commentary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “foulness”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “foulness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foulness”
- Using 'foulness' to mean simple rudeness or anger (e.g., 'He spoke with foulness' is less common). Confusing spelling with 'foul' + 'ness'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while it often describes unpleasant smells or tastes, it is also used for moral corruption, wicked acts, and rule-breaking in sports.
'Foul' is primarily an adjective describing something offensive. 'Foulness' is a noun referring to the abstract quality or state of being foul.
No, 'foulness' is exclusively negative and carries connotations of disgust and offensiveness.
It is not a high-frequency word. It belongs to a more formal or literary register and is used for strong emphasis.
The state of being extremely unpleasant or disgusting, especially due to dirt, smell, or moral corruption.
Foulness is usually formal or literary in register.
Foulness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfaʊlnəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfaʊlnəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cry foul”
- “Foul play”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FOUL NEST: a bird's nest that is so disgusting (full of rotten eggs and filth) that it represents the essence of foulness.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMORALITY IS FILTH / BAD IS ROTTEN.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'foulness' LEAST likely to be used?