obscurity.

1. The state of being little known or recognized.

2. A lack of clarity or intelligibility, or a particular unclear point.

3. Dimness or darkness that impedes sight.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• relative obscurity
• emerge from obscurity

On the page

The manuscript remained in relative obscurity until the archive was cataloged.

The writer emerged from obscurity without changing the earlier work.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: Usually uncountable; plural obscurities for particular unclear passages or matters. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: clarity and ornament, narrative perspective, style analysis. Disciplines: literary writing, narrative analysis, advanced English. Commonness: moderately common.