French word

brutalité

Pronunciation

IPA/bʁytalite/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbrutality

Example

On a été choqués par la brutalité de la scène.

We were shocked by the brutality of the scene.

Illustration for brutalité (brutality)

More examples

La brutalité policière a été dénoncée par la population.

Police brutality was denounced by the public.

Core concept

A scene where force overwhelms compassion and leaves people exposed to harm.

Common phrases

  • la brutalité policière

    police brutality

  • des actes de brutalité

    acts of brutality

  • la brutalité physique

    physical brutality

Similar words

cruauté: Deliberately treating someone coldly while showing no concern for their suffering.
violence: Using physical force to injure people or damage property.

Definition in French

Disposition ou comportement marqué par la cruauté, la violence ou l'absence de pitié.

Word origin

Brutalité is formed from the adjective brutal with the suffix -ité, and brutal comes from Latin brutalis, derived from brutus.

Usage tips

  • Brutalité is feminine, so the usual forms are la brutalité and de la brutalité.

Other meanings

  • crueltynoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word