atrocity

UK: /əˈtrɒsɪti/ US: /əˈtrɑsɪti/ ,(ə tros′i tē)

Inflections of 'atrocity' (n): npl: atrocities

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•troc•i•ty /əˈtrɑsɪti/   n., pl. -ties. 

1. [uncountable] the quality or state of being atrocious;
   brutal behavior.
2. [countable] an atrocious act, thing, or circumstance.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•troc•i•ty  (ə tros′i tē), n., pl. -ties. 

1. the quality or state of being atrocious.
2. an atrocious act, thing, or circumstance.

• Latin atrōcitās, equivalent. to atrōci- (stem of atrōx) fierce + -tās -ty²
• 1525–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

atrocity / əˈtrɒsɪtɪ/ noun ( -ties)

1. behaviour or an action that is wicked or ruthless
2. the fact or quality of being atrocious
3. (usually plural) acts of extreme cruelty, esp against prisoners or civilians in wartime