carnality

Rarely car·nal·ism

[kahr-nal-i-tee]

noun

1. preoccupation with, or indulgence in, the flesh or the body and its passions and appetites; sensuality.

   Giving in to the lures of carnality—whether that means porn or real-life promiscuity—is damaging to everyone concerned.

2. the quality or state of being merely temporal or worldly; lack of spiritual vitality or maturity.

   Complaints about salary, jealousy, ambition for a reputation, and other forms of carnality show how little we ministers are separated from the world.

Word History and Origins

Origin of carnality¹

First recorded in 1400–1450; carnal ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

His songs married carnality and spirituality, with an echo of the little boy singing in the gospel choir of his father’s church.

From Los Angeles Times

To TV viewers he’s the sensitive co-lead of “Normal People,” in which he won notice and acclaim for both his performance and the natural carnality he brought to its love scenes.

From Salon

The Last Dinner Party started the year playing shows to 100 people and ended up selling out London's Roundhouse - all thanks to the sensuous carnality of their debut single.

From BBC

And it’s full of provocations about how carnality is the soul of music.

From New York Times

The absence of carnality in today’s more sexless cinema world has been a subject of ongoing debate.

From Seattle Times