Word
obscurity
Meanings
the state of being unknown or not widely noticed
lack of clarity; difficulty in understanding something
darkness or concealment that makes something hard to see
Definition
Obscurity is the state of being unknown, hard to understand, or not clearly seen.
Obscurity means being hidden, not famous, or not widely known. It can also mean a lack of clarity, when something is difficult to understand or see. People may talk about a writer living in obscurity, or a topic being explained with obscurity. The word often suggests that something is outside public attention or unclear to others.
Examples
- The singer rose from obscurity after her first hit went viral.
- His writing style adds obscurity to an otherwise simple argument.
- The village lay in obscurity, far from major roads and cities.
- Years of obscurity ended when a publisher rediscovered her novels.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse obscurity (being unknown or unclear) with obscureness or use it when they mean security or privacy.
More nouns
- fascism Fascism is an extreme right-wing political system with a powerful dictator, strong nationalism, and…
- gaslighting Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that makes someone doubt their own memory, judg…
- narcissist A narcissist is someone who is excessively self-centered and craves admiration while showing little…
- empathy Empathy is the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings.
- metaphor A metaphor is a way of describing something by saying it is something else to create a clear image …