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

Explanation

Bitch is a commonly used slang word that is nonetheless vulgar when you throw it at a woman or a man. The word originally meant, and still means, a female dog. This word for a female pooch has evolved to a more common meaning: a woman you don't like. In those cases, a bitch is kind of a female jerk, although feminists would argue that the term often gets unfairly thrown at any strong willed, assertive woman. Many males call each other bitch, too, implying that the other guy is a weakling. Another common use is bitching or to bitch and moan, meaning to complain about something.

Example Sentences

“The ‘Resting Bitch Face’ sketch came from her personal experience.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2024

Gosar also sent Meadows a link to a fringe blog called "Some Bitch Showed Me" and other files purporting to show fraud in Arizona.

From Salon • Dec. 13, 2022

Bitch Media, a feminist publisher and magazine that was started in 1996, shuttered in June.

From New York Times • Aug. 14, 2022

A Linlithgow pub has announced plans to change its name from The Black Bitch to The Black Hound.

From BBC • Dec. 1, 2021

Being desirous to furnish himself with a Dog, he applied himself to buy one of this Martin, who had a Bitch with Whelps in her House.

From The Wonders of the Invisible World Being an Account of the Tryals of Several Witches Lately Executed in New-England, to which is added A Farther Account of the Tryals of the New-England Witches by Mather, Cotton