innuendo

American  

[in-yoo-en-doh] / ˌɪn juˈɛn doʊ /

noun

innuendos, plural innuendoes plural

1. an indirect intimation about a person or thing, especially of a disparaging or a derogatory nature.

   Synonyms:

   imputation, insinuation

2. Law.

   1. a parenthetic explanation or specification in a pleading.

   2. (in an action for slander or libel) the explanation and elucidation of the words alleged to be defamatory.

   3. the word or expression thus explained.

---

innuendo British  

/ ˌɪnjʊˈɛndəʊ /

noun

1. an indirect or subtle reference, esp one made maliciously or indicating criticism or disapproval; insinuation

2. law (in pleading) a word introducing an explanatory phrase, usually in parenthesis

3. law

   1. an explanation of the construction put upon words alleged to be defamatory where the defamatory meaning is not apparent

   2. the words thus explained

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• innuendoes
  plural
• innuendos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of innuendo

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin: “a hint,” literally, “by signaling,” ablative of innuendum, gerund of innuere “to signal,” equivalent to in- in- ² + nuere “to nod”

Explanation

Speaking in innuendo is when you say something indirectly — often of a hurtful or sexual nature. Innuendo in Latin means "to point to" or "nod to." When you refer to something indirectly, you point at it without mentioning it, making an innuendo. If your friend who recently stopped speaking to you glares at you across a room as she says to someone else, "I would never lie to someone I called a friend," she's making an innuendo. Without accusing you directly, she's saying she thinks you lied.

Example Sentences

Innuendo Bingo is returning to Radio 1, 18 months after the messiest game in British radio was taken off the air due to the coronavirus pandemic.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2022

Innuendo or no, that line is just confusing.

From New York Times • Jan. 13, 2022

Muirhead: Innuendo is substituting for evidence and facts.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2019

Innuendo for which no concrete evidence had been produced.

From Washington Post • Jul. 13, 2017

Moreover, the absence of Beau Ripple permitted a recklessness of conjecture, a venom of Innuendo that would have made the rumour famous, even had it proved devoid of the slightest foundation.

From The Passionate Elopement by MacKenzie, Compton

Related Words

• insinuation