obscurity

UK: /əbˈskjʊərəti/ US: /ɑbˈskjʊrəti/ ,(əb skyŏŏr′i tē)

Inflections of 'obscurity' (n): npl: obscurities

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ob•scur•i•ty /ɑbˈskyʊrəti/   n. [uncountable]

1. the condition or state of being hard to see because of darkness or dimness.
2. the condition or state of being unknown or not famous:
   He rose from obscurity to sudden fame.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ob•scu•ri•ty  (əb skyŏŏr′i tē), n., pl. -ties. 

1. the state or quality of being obscure.
2. the condition of being unknown:
   He lived in obscurity for years before winning acclaim.
3. uncertainty of meaning or expression;
   ambiguity.
4. an unknown or unimportant person or thing.
5. darkness;
   dimness;
   indistinctness.

• Latin obscūritās, equivalent. to obscūr(us) obscure + -itās -ity
• Middle French obscurite
• late Middle English 1470–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

obscurity / əbˈskjʊərɪtɪ/ noun ( -ties)

1. the state or quality of being obscure
2. an obscure person or thing