bitch

American  

[bich] / bɪtʃ /

noun

1. a female dog.

   This is the third year in a row that a bitch won first place in the sporting dogs category.

2. a female canine generally.

3. Slang.

   1. a malicious, unpleasant, selfish person, especially a woman.

   2. Older Use. a lewd woman.

   3. Disparaging and Offensive. any woman.

4. Informal. a person, especially a woman (often used as a term of address).

   Hey bitches, let's go party!

5. Slang.

   1. a complaint.

   2. anything difficult or unpleasant.

      That test was a real bitch.

   3. anything memorable, especially something exceptionally good.

      You threw one bitch of a party last night.

6. Slang: Disparaging. a person who is submissive or subservient to someone, usually in a humiliating way.

   Tom is so her bitch—he never questions what she decides.

7. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.

   1. a man who willingly or unwillingly submits to the will and control of a dominant partner in a sexual relationship, especially with another man, as in

   2. a gay man who is penetrated in anal intercourse, or who assumes a submissive role in a sexual relationship.

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verb (used without object)

1. Slang. to complain; gripe.

   They bitched about the service, then about the bill.

verb (used with object)

1. Slang. to spoil; bungle (sometimes followed byup ).

   He bitched the interview completely.

   You really bitched up this paint job.

idioms

1. sit / ride bitch, to sit uncomfortably between two others in the middle of the front or back seat of a car, particularly one with a raised section in the middle resulting in being forced to bring one's knees up in a bent position.

   When I was young, I was the smallest, so I always had to sit bitch.

   Please don't make me ride bitch again!

bitch British  

/ bɪtʃ /

noun

1. a female dog or other female canine animal, such as a wolf

2. offensive a malicious, spiteful, or coarse woman

3. slang a complaint

4. slang a difficult situation or problem

5. slang a person who acts as a subordinate or slave to another person

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verb

1. (intr) to complain; grumble

2. to behave (towards) in a spiteful or malicious manner

3. to botch; bungle

Pop Culture

— The BITCH Manifesto: Classic feminist article (1970) written by Jo Freeman under the pen name Joreen. It reclaimed the word “bitch” as a term of empowerment rather than one of abuse. — Bitch: A feminist magazine commenting on popular culture and media, founded in 1996. —Bitch: The stage name of a politically outspoken female rock vocalist/violinist and actress. — Skinny Bitch: A diet book (2005) written by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. — No One's the Bitch: A book (2009), website, and forum that supports mother and stepmother relationships. Started by Jennifer Newcomb Marine and Carol Marine. —Stitch 'n Bitch: A network of groups of people who knit and crochet.

Other Word Forms

• superbitch noun

Etymology

Origin of bitch

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bicche, Old English bicce; cognate with Old Norse bikkja

Example Sentences

His use of the word "bitch" in the Halloween heist episode was only in the literal sense - referring to a female dog.

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2023

The now-retired champion is busy playing, romping, posing and shedding, as well as spending time with his special friend, a winsome Siberian husky bitch called Awesome.

From New York Times • May 10, 2023

The problem has gotten worse as city folk move in and proceed to do nothing but bitch about country life.

From Slate • May 14, 2021

The garbage way that tabloids try to set women upon each other to create a fantasy bitch fight for entertainment is so disgusting and archaic.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 14, 2020

Around the last stall came a shepherd bitch, lean and long, with heavy, hanging dugs.

From "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck