Blasphemous or obscene language; words or expressions considered offensive or taboo. Language that shows disrespect for sacred things.
From Latin 'profanus', meaning 'before the temple' - literally outside the sacred space. The prefix 'pro-' (before/in front of) plus 'fanum' (temple) originally distinguished secular from sacred, later acquiring negative connotations.
Profanity literally means 'outside the temple' - it's language that exists in the secular world rather than the sacred one. This spatial metaphor reveals how our ancestors understood offensive language as a violation of boundaries between holy and ordinary space.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.