indecency
C2Formal / Legal
Definition
Meaning
The quality or state of being indecent; behavior or language offensive to accepted standards of propriety or modesty.
Can extend to actions or materials considered legally obscene, or more broadly, to any behavior lacking taste, sensitivity, or respect for prevailing social norms.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an abstract, uncountable noun referring to the general concept or quality. Can be used countably (indecencies) to refer to specific offensive acts or remarks.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though the term features more prominently in specific UK legal terminology (e.g., 'outraging public decency').
Connotations
In both variants, strong connotations of moral/sexual offense and potential illegality.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in formal/litigious contexts in the US, especially in media discussing FCC regulations or public morality cases.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
commit an indecencybe accused of indecencythe indecency of (something)shocked by the indecencyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms with 'indecency' as the headword. Often appears in set legal phrases like 'gross indecency'.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in HR/legal contexts regarding workplace conduct policies (e.g., 'allegations of indecency').
Academic
Used in legal, sociological, or media studies discussing morality, censorship, and public standards.
Everyday
Used in serious discussions of offensive behavior, often news-related (e.g., 'the indecency of his comments').
Technical
A specific legal term in statutes concerning obscenity and public morals.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [No direct verb form. Use 'behave indecently' or 'commit an indecency'.]
American English
- [No direct verb form. Use 'act indecently' or 'be charged with indecency'.]
adverb
British English
- [No direct adverb form. Use 'indecently'.]
American English
- [No direct adverb form. Use 'indecently'.]
adjective
British English
- The show was criticised for its indecent content, bordering on gross indecency.
American English
- The comedian's indecent routine led to an FCC complaint for broadcast indecency.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Too complex for A2. The concept is not typically introduced at this level.]
- The newspaper article described the politician's behaviour as an indecency.
- The film was banned in several countries due to its graphic indecency and obscene imagery.
- The landmark legal case revolved around defining the threshold between artistic expression and criminal indecency.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: IN (not) + DECENCY (proper behavior) = improper/offensive behavior.
Conceptual Metaphor
INDECENCY IS FILTH / A SOCIAL STAIN (e.g., 'cleansed of indecency', 'a stain of indecency').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating as 'неприличие' for all contexts; for serious/legal charges, 'непристойность' is stronger and more accurate.
- Do not confuse with 'indecision' (нерешительность), which is phonetically similar but unrelated.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as /ɪnˈdɛsənsi/ (with a short 'e').
- Using it as a countable noun for minor social faux pas (e.g., 'He committed several indecencies at dinner' is overly strong for mere bad manners).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'indecency' most specifically and technically defined?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes, especially in legal contexts (e.g., 'indecent exposure'). However, it can extend to any profoundly offensive violation of social propriety, such as grotesque cruelty or extreme disrespect.
Legally, 'obscenity' is a narrower, more severe category with stricter tests (like the Miller test in the US). 'Indecency' is broader and can apply to material that is patently offensive but not necessarily meeting the high bar for obscenity, especially in broadcast media.
Yes, but less common. The plural 'indecencies' refers to specific indecent acts or remarks (e.g., 'He was guilty of numerous minor indecencies'). The uncountable form is standard.
No, it is a formal word. In everyday speech, people are more likely to use words like 'rudeness', 'being offensive', 'vulgarity', or more specific terms depending on the context.
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