Agency Dictionary
Preposterous
adjectivePronunciation: /prɪˈpɒs.tər.əs/
In Portuguese: Absurdo
Writing & NarrativeWhat does “Preposterous” mean?
Contrary to reason or common sense, utterly absurd or ridiculous.
Etymology
From Latin praeposterus (with the hinder part before, reversed, inverted), from prae (before) and posterus (coming after, from post). The Latin adjective described something in which the natural order is inverted, and the sense extended to anything contrary to reason or common sense.
Usage note
Preposterous is stronger than absurd: it implies that something is so contrary to reason that it is almost comical. The Latin origin (hind part before) is not felt by modern users.
Synonyms
- absurd
- ridiculous
- ludicrous
- outrageous
- nonsensical
Word family
- preposterously
- preposterousness
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
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