Blasphemy
noun /ˈblæs.fə.mi/ — Speech or action showing contempt or disrespect for the sacred.
Definition
The act of expressing contempt, irreverence, or disrespect toward something considered sacred. Blasphemy is one of the oldest categories of forbidden speech, and continues to carry legal consequences in many countries.
Beyond the definition
Blasphemy is the speech act that most clearly reveals the difference between communities: what is sacred to one is ordinary, or even funny, to another. The offense is real; whether the rule is just is a different question.
Origin & history
From Late Latin 'blasphemia', from Greek 'blasphemia' (slander); from 'blaptein' (to hurt) + 'pheme' (speech). Damaging speech — language that injures by its subject.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Blasphemy laws remain on the books in seventy countries — many with provisions used against religious minorities.
What is blasphemy from outside a faith often looks like ordinary skepticism from inside secular society.
The comedian's blasphemy was the most serious version: not irreverence for effect but genuine disbelief, stated plainly.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Blasphemy” when the meaning fits your context: The act of expressing contempt, irreverence, or disrespect toward something considered sacred. Blasphemy is one of the oldest categories of forbidden speech, and continues to carry legal consequences in many countries.
Synonyms
sacrilege, impiety, desecration
Antonyms
Related words
Blasphemy vs profanity
Blasphemy specifically involves contemptuous speech or action directed at sacred figures or religious tenets. Profanity is a broader term for disrespectful or vulgar language that lacks inherent holiness.
Compare this word
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Entering Sacred Space
An adult stands at the entrance of an ancient, shadowy forest, holding a glowing talisman.
Standing at the threshold of a place demanding reverence, the person respects the sacred boundary. This contrast illustrates the significance of the sacred, which is necessary to understand the act of expressing contempt toward it.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Blasphemy" mean?
Blasphemy is noun meaning: Speech or action showing contempt or disrespect for the sacred.. The act of expressing contempt, irreverence, or disrespect toward something considered sacred. Blasphemy is one of the oldest categories of forbidden speech, and continues to carry legal consequences in many countries.
Where does the word "Blasphemy" come from?
From Late Latin 'blasphemia', from Greek 'blasphemia' (slander); from 'blaptein' (to hurt) + 'pheme' (speech). Damaging speech — language that injures by its subject.