Obscene means offensively disgusting or shockingly inappropriate, especially in ways that violate standards of decency. The word often describes things that are vulgar, crude, or too graphic for polite company.

When something is obscene, it goes way beyond just being in poor taste. An obscene gesture might be a rude hand sign that insults someone. Obscene language includes curse words and crude expressions that many people think shouldn't be used in school, at home, or in public. Some movies earn restricted ratings because they contain obscene content that isn't considered suitable for children.

The word can also describe things that are shockingly excessive or outrageous. Someone might say a billionaire's mansion is obscenely large, or that a company charged an obscene amount of money for something simple. A student who brags constantly about their wealth might be called obscene, not because they're being vulgar, but because their showing off violates what people consider decent or appropriate.

Different communities and cultures have different standards for what counts as obscene. What seems shocking in one place or time might seem normal in another. Courts sometimes have to decide whether certain books, artworks, or performances are obscene, which can be surprisingly difficult since people disagree about where to draw the line.