Atrocity
/əˈtrɒsəti/
nounIntermediateCommonGeneral
Meaning
Questions
Definitions
1
An act of extreme cruelty and wickedness.
/əˈtrɒsəti/
nounnegativeIntermediate
General
An extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving violence or suffering.
The massacre was a horrific atrocity.
💡 Simply: A really bad and cruel act.
More Examples
2
The reports detailed the atrocities committed during the war.
How It's Used
War Crimes
"The bombing of civilian targets was an atrocity that shocked the world."
Historical Events
"The Holocaust is remembered as one of the greatest atrocities in human history."
From Old French 'atrocité', from Latin 'atrocitās', from 'atrox' meaning 'fierce, cruel'.
The word has been used to describe acts of cruelty and violence throughout history, gaining prominence in discussions of wartime events.
Memory tip
Think 'atrocious' (very bad) + 'ity' (state or quality).
Practice
Base: atrocious
atrocitysatrocittyatrocit
Usage
10%Spoken
90%Written