indecente

Indecente is an adjective used in Portuguese and Spanish to describe something that fails to meet standards of decency or propriety. It can refer to behavior, speech, dress, or content considered immoral, immodest, obscene, or improper within a given social context. In everyday language, the term conveys disapproval of acts or expressions that offend prevailing norms of modesty or publicly accepted standards of probity.

Etymology: The word derives from late Latin indecentem, from in- "not" + decens "becoming, proper." In Portuguese the form is indecente and in Spanish indecente, with the corresponding noun indecência/indecencia representing the quality of indecency. The term is closely related to decência (decency) and obscenidade (obscenity).

Legal and regulatory usage: In many legal systems, terms like indecente are used to classify acts or material deemed inappropriate for public view or moral standards. Public indecency laws, broadcast or publication restrictions, and censorship rules may employ synonyms of indecência/indecent. Definitions vary by jurisdiction, with some distinctions drawn between mere indecency, obscenity, and acts harming minors or publicly promoting sexual content.

Arts and culture: The adjective frequently appears in criticism and discourse surrounding literature, cinema, music, and visual arts, where it signals themes of transgression, scandal, or provocative content. Works may be described as indecente to emphasize boundary-pushing or to provoke debate about morality, censorship, and freedom of expression. It may also appear as a title or descriptive label in various media.

See also: Decência, Indecência, Obscenidade, Morality, Censorship.