Dictionary

offensiveness en · NOUN

Pronunciation

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Etymology

Etymology tree English offensive Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English offensiveness From offensive + -ness.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The quality of being offensive.
   • Some slurs like “slut” and “retard” vary in their perceived offensiveness to those polled, but also include some incredibly offensive words like the “N-word.” 2011 September 21, Erica Ho, “Poll Finds Young People Aren’t Bothered by Slurs Used Online”, in Time, archived from the original on 18 Sep 2019:

Forms