perversity

[ per-vur-si-tee ]
/ pərˈvɜr sɪ ti /

noun, plural per·ver·si·ties for 2.

the state or quality of being perverse.
an instance of this.

Origin of perversity

From the Latin word perversitās, dating back to 1520–30. See perverse, -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM perversity

non·per·ver·si·ty, noun, plural non·per·ver·si·ties.

Example sentences from the Web for perversity

  • Perversity haunts the garden, and the dock always grows as near as possible to some plant that you value.

  • Perversity prompted her answer, but at once she remembered Crewe, and turned away in annoyance.

    In the Year of Jubilee |George Gissing
  • Perversity, inconsistency—but it was her nature, and she could not overcome it.

    One Man in His Time |Ellen Glasgow
  • "Perversity is the only thing that makes this rotten life worth living," retorted Bakkus.

    The Mountebank |William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for perversity

perversity
/ (pəˈvɜːsɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the quality or state of being perverse
a perverse action, comment, etc