dick
1 Americannoun
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dicks
plural
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Older Use. a detective.
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Vulgar. penis.
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Vulgar. a stupid, mean, or contemptible person, especially a man.
noun
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George Frederick, 1881–1967, U.S. internist.
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Philip K., 1928–82, U.S. science-fiction writer.
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a male given name, form of Richard.
noun
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a fellow or person
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a person who is obnoxiously opinionated or self-satisfied; know-all
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a slang word for penis
noun
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:
"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 show’s producer, dick clark productions, also demanded for Berk’s removal.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 20, 2021
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
They were quiet for a time, watching the fields and lanes dick past.
From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling
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Saint James remarried to then-NBC executive Dick Ebersol after they met in 1981 when she hosted “Saturday Night Live.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
They explore how Woodward’s relationship with friend and key source Dick Darman collapsed, journalistic ethics, and whether reporters can really be friends with sources.
From Slate ● Oct. 22, 2026
My friend Luke Dick is an amazing songwriter, and he was like, “Hey, I’ve got some dates with Ella. You should come.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Dick Portillo turned a $1,100 investment into a billion-dollar hot-dog empire over 50 years.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
Dick was driving a black 1949 Chevrolet sedan.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
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Other types of plants — bulbs and perennial herbs like blue dicks, onions and larkspur — are “starting to ramp up” now, she said.
From New York Times ● Apr. 21, 2023
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
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
He’s the ghost of Christmas past gone wrong, singing with his show-host permasmile and completely missing the irony, while somehow shaming the seasonally disgruntled into feeling like dicks for not having a good time.
From Salon ● Nov. 30, 2018
"Why we leaves 'em alone an' goes to de nex' farm an' calls up K. C. an' tips off de dicks, see?"
From The Mucker by Edgar Rice Burroughs
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.