blasphemy

Borrowed from Old French blasfemie, from Ecclesiastical Latin blasphēmia, from Ancient Greek βλασφημία (blasphēmía, “profanity”), from βλασφημέω (blasphēméō, “to slander”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈblæs.fə.mi/
• Rhymes: -æsfəmi

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blasphemy (countable and uncountable, plural blasphemies)

1. Irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable.

   That imam said that drawing the prophet Muhammad is a form of blasphemy.

2. The act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for any religion's deity or deities.
3. The act of claiming the attributes of a deity.

• (irreverent language): cursing, cussing, execration, imprecation, profanity, swearing
• (unholy act): profanation, desecration, sacrilege, violation

• reverence, veneration, worship, adoration

• blasphemous
• blasphemously
• blasphemousness

• blaspheme