- Today's Word
Turpitude
TUR-pih-tood
Definition
(noun) Depraved or wicked behavior.
Example
The court was shocked by the level of moral turpitude described in the case.
Fun Fact
The phrase “moral turpitude” is common in law and immigration, used to describe crimes or conduct that breach ethical standards—fraud, abuse, and corruption are typical examples. The word sounds lofty, but it’s often used in dry legal documents to describe behavior that’s downright awful.