innuendo
Americannoun
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innuendos,
plural
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innuendoes
plural
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an indirect intimation about a person or thing, especially of a disparaging or a derogatory nature.
- Synonyms:
- imputation, insinuation
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Law.
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a parenthetic explanation or specification in a pleading.
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(in an action for slander or libel) the explanation and elucidation of the words alleged to be defamatory.
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the word or expression thus explained.
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noun
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an indirect or subtle reference, esp one made maliciously or indicating criticism or disapproval; insinuation
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law (in pleading) a word introducing an explanatory phrase, usually in parenthesis
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law
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an explanation of the construction put upon words alleged to be defamatory where the defamatory meaning is not apparent
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the words thus explained
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Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing innuendo
100 SAT Words Beginning with "I"
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The Joy Luck Club
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Strategists figured it better to get out front of the chatter and address the online innuendo, even if it meant exposing the allegations to a much wider audience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2026
Produced and directed by Ernst Lubitsch and written by his frequent collaborator Samson Raphaelson, this Paramount picture, running a pert 82 minutes, positively shimmers with wit and sizzles with innuendo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026
Owens’ story is backed by innuendo, exaggerations, outright falsehoods, and, in several instances, messages delivered through Owens’ own dreams.
From Slate ● Feb. 27, 2026
In 2011, when he was a business minister, Sir Ed said Andrew was doing an "excellent job" as trade envoy and dismissed concerns around him at the time as "innuendo".
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2026
Threpe was an inveterate gossipmonger with a knack for tasteless innuendo, and I have always had a gift for a catchy tune.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Madariaga had concluded Columbus was a Jew, said Morison, “by fashioning a significant pattern of hypothesis and innuendoes unsupported by anything so vulgar as fact.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
He used innuendoes to refer to money, on one occasion messaging Gill: "I've received all promised Xmas gifts and requested five more postcards for your kind help next week during the debate."
From BBC ● Nov. 21, 2025
His dismissed the prosecution’s case as nothing more than “theories, hypotheses, innuendoes, assumptions, gut feelings, hairs on the back of your neck.”
From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024
He is a physical wreck, though he puts on a surprisingly good and vigorous show as, without an audience, he staggers about a stage delivering songs, limericks, innuendoes and reminiscences.
From New York Times ● Nov. 14, 2012
I don't pretend to understand your innuendoes, but let that pass.
From The Bushranger's Secret by Mrs. Henry Clarke
An Alibaba Group spokesperson told AFP "the assertions and innuendos in the article are completely false".
From Barron's ● Nov. 25, 2025
The writing is punctuated by testy asides and innuendos about Villanueva foes, whom the report accuses of everything from extramarital affairs to ethical violations to new crimes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2024
Russell Westbrook no doubt heard the innuendos when he was a triple-double machine.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 7, 2023
“To address these false accusations, defamatory statements and innuendos I have filed a lawsuit against both DEF CON Communications and Jeff Moss.”
From The Verge ● Aug. 18, 2022
Me: “‘I do not know which to prefer, / The beauty of inflections / Or the beauty of innuendos, / The blackbird whistling / Or just after.’”
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
