badness
|bad-ness|
/ˈbæd.nəs/
state of being bad
Etymology
'badness' originates from English, formed by the adjective 'bad' + the suffix '-ness' which denotes 'state or quality'.
The adjective 'bad' appears in Middle English as 'bad' and earlier; adding the nominalizing suffix '-ness' produced the Modern English noun 'badness'.
Initially it simply denoted 'the state or quality of being bad' (covering moral and qualitative senses); this basic meaning has remained largely the same though usage frequency is low compared with related words like 'evil' or 'poor quality'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being morally bad or wicked; moral evil.
Many philosophers have written about the problem of evil and the badness of certain actions.
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Noun 2
the state or degree of being poor in quality, faulty, or unsatisfactory.
The badness of the material became apparent after only a few uses.
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Last updated: 2025/10/20 18:39