What does blaspheme mean?
To blaspheme is to speak about God, gods, or sacred things with irreverence, contempt, or abuse. The verb sits at the heart of religious language: in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam alike, blasphemy has historically been treated as one of the gravest offenses a person could commit, and laws punishing it persisted for centuries — some still exist today. Blaspheme typically takes 'against' when naming what is violated ('blaspheme against the Holy Spirit'), but can also take the sacred object directly ('blaspheme the name of God'). Beyond strictly theological use, it extends figuratively to treating anything deeply revered as if it were contemptible, as in accusing someone of 'blaspheming against' art or tradition. The word is formal and weighty, carrying strong connotations of transgression, and is more at home in legal, literary, and religious writing than in casual conversation, where milder terms like 'swear' or 'profane' usually do the work instead.
verbTo speak irreverently or impiously about God or sacred things; to utter profanity or abuse concerning what is held holy.
- To speak irreverently about God or sacred things.
- To utter curses or profanity, especially invoking the divine.
"The villagers were shocked that anyone would dare blaspheme against the church so openly."
"It is forbidden to blaspheme the name of God in any of the Abrahamic faiths."
"Critics accused the film of blaspheming against everything the nation held sacred."
In medieval Europe, blaspheming could cost you your tongue — and in some places, your life.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of blaspheme
Blaspheme comes from the Greek 'blasphēmein', meaning 'to speak evil of' or 'to slander', formed from 'blaptō' (to harm) and 'phēmē' (speech). Greek passed it into Late Latin as 'blasphemare', and Old French carried it into Middle English, where it was attested by the late fourteenth century. English also borrowed the related nouns 'blasphemy' and 'blasphemer', and the adjective 'blasphemous', all from the same root. A notable cousin of the same Greek source is 'blame': Latin 'blasphemare' developed the variant form 'blasphemare/blasmare' in Vulgar Latin, which yielded Old French 'blasmer' — the ancestor of modern 'blame'.
How blaspheme is actually used
Formal and strongly associated with religious contexts. In everyday speech, 'swear' or 'take God's name in vain' are more common; 'blaspheme' carries a serious, often condemnatory tone. It frequently appears with 'against' (blaspheme against God), though it can also take the sacred thing directly as an object.
Easily confused with blaspheme
Slander is a false spoken statement that damages a person's reputation, whereas blaspheming is showing irreverence toward God or sacred things.