Depravity

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /dəˈpɹævɪti/

Definitions

1. A state characterized by an intense moral decline and the presence of wicked behaviors that undermine ethical principles
2. A condition marked by severe ethical deterioration and a prevalence of immoral acts that challenge societal morals
3. A condition of extreme immorality shown through evil and sinful actions

Etymology: Latin "pravus" originally meant "crooked" or "misshapen," and it was applied to physical objects long before it described character. The verb "depravare" meant to twist something out of its proper shape, so the moral sense grew out of an image of something bent. The prefix "de-" adds the sense of turning away from something, making depravity literally a turning away from what is straight. The noun came into English through Old French "depravité" from Latin "depravitas," and it carried the sense of corruption and moral perversion that it still has.

Synonyms: corruption, wickedness, immorality

Antonyms: virtue, purity