English Meaning & Definitions
An offensive, tactless, or socially inappropriate remark, action, or behavior that lacks sensitivity or good taste.
- “She was shocked by the sheer indelicacy of his question about her salary.”
- “A successful diplomat must navigate tense negotiations without committing an indelicacy.”
The quality of being coarse, unrefined, or improper, especially regarding matters of sex or bodily functions.
- “Victorian society strictly censored any perceived indelicacy in literature and art.”
- “He chuckled at the mild indelicacy of the joke.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “indelicacy”.
Derived from the late 16th century, formed as in- (meaning 'not') + delicacy (from Middle French délicatesse and Latin delicatus, meaning 'pleasing' or 'dainty'). Originally referring to a lack of refinement or sensitivity, it evolved to describe behavior, speech, or remarks that are socially inappropriate, tactless, or offensive to modest sensibilities.
Think of it as the opposite of 'delicacy'. If a delicate situation requires soft handling, an 'indelicacy' is a clumsy or offensive remark that breaks that fragile social grace.
Frequently Asked Questions About “indelicacy”
1. What is the meaning of “indelicacy” in English?
In English, indelicacy (noun) is defined as: “An offensive, tactless, or socially inappropriate remark, action, or behavior that lacks sensitivity or good taste.”.
2. How do you use “indelicacy” in a sentence?
“She was shocked by the sheer indelicacy of his question about her salary.”
3. What are English synonyms of “indelicacy”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “indelicacy”?
Derived from the late 16th century, formed as in- (meaning 'not') + delicacy (from Middle French délicatesse and Latin delicatus, meaning 'pleasing' or 'dainty'). Originally referring to a lack of refinement or sensitivity, it evolved to describe behavior, speech, or remarks that are socially inappropriate, tactless, or offensive to modest sensibilities.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.