noun
Uncommon
obscurity
uhb-SKYOOR-rih-tee
Obscurity (noun) means the state of being unknown or not noticed. Example: “The band spent years in obscurity before their breakthrough hit.”
noun
1
The state of being unknown or not noticed.
"The band spent years in obscurity before their breakthrough hit."
2
The quality of being hard to understand.
"Critics complained about the obscurity of his later poems."
How to use obscurity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing unknown, or being confusing/unclear.
Common pairings
fade into obscurity
rise from obscurity
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Word forms
- Plural
- obscurities
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The band spent years in _____ before their breakthrough hit.
Etymology
From Latin obscuritas, from obscurus ("dark, obscure").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for obscurity
See all rhymes for obscurity →Frequently asked questions
What does “obscurity” mean?
The word “obscurity” means the state of being unknown or not noticed. In plain terms, being unknown, or being confusing/unclear.
How do you pronounce “obscurity”?
“Obscurity” is pronounced uhb-SKYOOR-rih-tee (/əbˈskjʊɹɪti/ in IPA).
How do you use “obscurity” in a sentence?
Here is “obscurity” used in a sentence: “The band spent years in obscurity before their breakthrough hit.”
What is the opposite of “obscurity”?
The opposite of “obscurity” — its antonyms — are fame and clarity.
What part of speech is “obscurity”?
“Obscurity” is a noun.
Where does the word “obscurity” come from?
The word “obscurity” comes from Latin. From Latin obscuritas, from obscurus ("dark, obscure").
Is “obscurity” a common word?
“Obscurity” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “obscurity” have?
“Obscurity” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state of being unknown or not noticed.
