dick
noun
a detective.
dick
1 American
[dik]
/ dɪk /
noun
Slang.
-
dicks
plural
-
Older Use. a detective.
-
Vulgar. penis.
-
Vulgar. a stupid, mean, or contemptible person, especially a man.
Dick
2
American
[dik]
/ dɪk /
noun
-
George Frederick, 1881–1967, U.S. internist.
-
Philip K., 1928–82, U.S. science-fiction writer.
-
a male given name, form of Richard.
dick
1
British
/ dɪk /
noun
dick
2
British
/ dɪk /
noun
-
a fellow or person
-
a person who is obnoxiously opinionated or self-satisfied; know-all
-
a slang word for penis
Dick
Scientific
/ dĭk /
Dick
Idioms
Usage
The third sense of this word was formerly considered to be taboo and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary . However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of dick
First recorded in 1545–55; generic use of the name Dick ( def. )
Explanation
Dick is a vulgar slang word for a penis. It's also an insulting thing to call someone you don't like, especially a boy or man. Much like ass, this word for a below-the-belt body part is very commonly used as an insult meaning pretty much "jerk" or "idiot." Only males have dicks, and this insult is usually used toward a guy who is "acting like a dick." Lots of people find this word offensive, especially parents, teachers, and other adults. If you have to discuss a dick, you're better off saying penis or using a slang word that's sillier and less offensive, like johnson.
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:
Boehly’s firm is also the parent company of dick clark productions, the awards’ producer, and the owner of the Globes’ longtime home, the Beverly Hilton.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 20, 2022
"Lennon was as friendly as could be, not flippant or jokey or clever dick, treating his young interviewer's questions with respect, which of course makes his answers interesting."
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2022
My biggest beef with Forgotten Land is that, as a heretofore non-Kirby player, Kirby kinda comes off as a dick.
From The Verge ● Mar. 23, 2022
The Academy of Country Music, dick clark productions, and CBS announced the nominations on Friday, which honors some of the biggest talent and rising stars within country music.
From Fox News ● Feb. 26, 2021
I'm traveling 90 kilometers per day as usual, but I only get 37 kilometers closer to Schiaparelli because Pythagoras is a dick.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
As Dr. Jonathan Reiner, who served as Vice President Dick Cheney’s cardiologist, recently wrote in the New York Times, “the president has not looked well.”
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026
The killing of Chelsea Yasser has been described by the podcasters as the "White Whale", of Moby Dick fame, given how long it has haunted investigators.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
“It’s almost cult-like,” Dick Wadhams, a former Colorado GOP chairman, said of Marx’s support.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
The Clippers traded Leonard to the Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a pick swap and two second-round picks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
And yet when Dick next spoke, it was only to launch another joke.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
Flowers include “desert dandelions, blue dicks, desert or wild parsley, and red maids,” according to the parks department, as well as blooming Joshua trees and bladderpod.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2023
Look for lupines, goldfields, blue dicks and giant coreopsis.
From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2023
The coverups, private dicks, badgering lawyers, statements that promise one thing followed by the opposite: These are behaviors that happened in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and beyond.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 4, 2022
It celebrates that glorious moment when you get to the end of school and realise that the people you always thought of as dicks, jocks, geeks, or whatever, are actually all right.
From The Guardian ● May 27, 2019
Here you, Louie," he bade one of them, "jump to the telephone and notify a certain party to have me mouthpiece at Headquarters by the time I kin get there with these two dicks.
From From Place to Place by Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury) Cobb
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.
