The word "atrocity" /əˈtrɒsəti/ is spelled with two syllables, pronounced as "uh-tros-i-tee". The IPA phonetic transcription helps to understand the word's spelling, where the first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound and a /t/ sound followed by an open /o/ vowel. The second syllable starts with an /r/ sound followed by a long /o/ vowel, and then a /s/ sound and finally the stressed /i/ sound, creating the word's meaning - a shockingly bad or cruel act.
Atrocity is a noun that refers to a horrifying, brutal, or morally offensive act committed against innocent people, often resulting in great suffering, pain, or death. This term is commonly used to describe actions that are disturbingly cruel or inhumane, causing deep shock and outrage in society. Atrocities can manifest in various forms, including acts of violence, genocide, torture, mass murder, or systematic oppression. They may be carried out by individuals, groups, or even governments, often targeting specific populations based on their ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, or other distinguishing characteristics.
The term implies a stark departure from moral or ethical standards, as atrocities are characterized by extreme violence, callousness, and disregard for human dignity. Such acts typically result in widespread and long-lasting negative consequences, producing significant trauma, grief, and psychological harm for the victims and their communities. Atrocities have historically been regarded as grave violations of human rights and are closely associated with war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The concept of atrocity is deeply intertwined with notions of justice, accountability, and the protection of human rights. The identification and condemnation of atrocities are vital for fostering societal awareness, mobilizing international intervention, initiating legal proceedings against perpetrators, and ultimately working towards preventing future occurrences.
Enormous wickedness; cruelty in the highest degree.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "atrocity" originates from the Latin word "atrox", which means "cruel" or "ferocious". It later evolved into "atrocia" in Medieval Latin, referring to circumstances or acts of great cruelty, wickedness, or evil. Over time, the word transformed into "atrocitatem" in Old French, which was eventually adapted into "atrocite" in Middle English, and finally became "atrocity" in modern English. The word has consistently maintained its sense of extreme cruelty or brutality throughout its linguistic evolution.