Added 9 October 2026
atrocity
/əˈtɹɒsɪti/ noun
In Latin: atrocitas Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about atrocity at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
An extremely cruel act; a horrid act of injustice.
to carry out / commit / perpetrate an atrocity
- The quality or state of being atrocious; enormous wickedness; extreme criminality or cruelty.
- An object considered to be extremely unattractive or undesirable.
Origin
From Middle French atrocité, from Latin atrōcitās, from atrōx (“terrible, cruel”) + -tās, from āter (“matte black”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)