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coprolalia

American  
[kop-ruh-lay-lee-uh] / ˌkɒp rəˈleɪ li ə /

noun

Psychiatry.
  1. the obsessive use of scatological language.


coprolalia British  
/ ˌkɒprəˈleɪlɪə /

noun

  1. obsessive use of obscene or foul language

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of coprolalia

copro- + -lalia


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:

While Tourette syndrome has many complex symptoms, “I Swear” focuses largely on coprolalia, a symptom affecting approximately 10% of individuals with Tourette’s and manifests in the involuntary use of obscene language.

From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2026

Tourette’s is misunderstood, and coprolalia, a symptom of the condition that leads to involuntary swearing, slurs, or other socially unacceptable words or phrases, is even more so.

From Salon ● Mar. 1, 2026

She experiences motor twitches, such as jaw jerks, vocal tics and coprolalia - involuntarily using obscene or offensive language - which she says can be "embarrassing" when she's in public.

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026

Davidson has coprolalia, which results in involuntary outbursts of swear words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks.

From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2026

Changes to these very same brain structures—the basal ganglia in particular—are observed in people with coprolalia, the uncontrollable use of taboo language often observed in Tourette Syndrome.

From Time ● Sep. 13, 2016

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