Absurd

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /É™bˈsɜːd/
• US
• Canada IPA: /æbˈzɝd/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)d

Origin

First attested in 1557. From Middle French absurde, from Latin absurdus ("incongruous, dissonant, out of tune"),

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from ab ("away from, out") + surdus ("silent, deaf, dull-sounding").

MW3 1976|page=8

Compare surd.

Full definition of absurd

Adjective

1. Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and flatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; silly. First attested in the mid 16^th century.

• 1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part I, V-ivThis proffer is absurd and reasonless.
• ca. 1710, Alexander PopeThis phrase absurd to call a villain great
• 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 17, “Perhaps it is because I have been excommunicated. It's absurd, but I feel like the Jackdaw of Rheims.” ¶ She winced and bowed her head. Each time that he spoke flippantly of the Church he caused her pain.
1. (obsolete) Inharmonious; dissonant. Attested only in the early 17^th century.
2. Having no rational or orderly relationship to people's lives; meaningless; lacking order or value.
• unknown date Adults have condemned them to live in what must seem like an absurd universe. - Joseph Featherstone
3. Dealing with absurdism.

Usage notes

More and most absurd are the preferred or more common form of the comparable, as opposed to absurder and absurdest.

Among the synonyms:

Irrational is the weakest, denoting that which is plainly inconsistent with the dictates of sound reason; as, an irrational course of life.

Foolish rises higher, and implies either a perversion of that faculty, or an absolute weakness or fatuity of mind; as, foolish enterprises.

Absurd rises still higher, denoting that which is plainly opposed to received notions of propriety and truth; as, an absurd man, project, opinion, story, argument, etc.

Preposterous rises still higher, and supposes an absolute inversion in the order of things; or, in plain terms, a "putting of the cart before the horse;" as, a preposterous suggestion, preposterous conduct, a preposterous regulation or law.

Synonyms

• foolish, irrational, ridiculous, preposterous, inconsistent, incongruous, ludicrous

Derived terms

• absurdly, absurdity

Noun

1. (obsolete) An absurdity. Attested from the early 17^th century until the mid 17^th century.
2. (philosophy) The opposition between the human search for meaning in life and the inability to find any; the state or condition in which man exists in an irrational universe and his life has no meaning outside of his existence. First attested in the early 20^th century.

Usage notes

(philosophy) Absurd is sometimes preceded by the word the.

Derived terms

• theatre of the absurd