dirty word
noun
a vulgar or taboo word; obscenity.
dirty words
-
pluralof dirty word.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
But beyond George Carlin’s seven dirty words, I can think of at least a dozen other words—mostly adolescent playground insults—that we’re all forced to think twice before saying.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2025
An eclectic collection of essays on subjects including Dracula, dirty words and Elena Ferrante is a tribute to its writer, who died last month at age 78.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2024
“We have to get out of the view that certain things are dirty words: ‘Public housing’ is not a dirty word.
From New York Times ● Aug. 25, 2023
Those are perhaps the three worst and most dirty words for those who are members of the commentariat or punditry.
From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2023
It’s the attraction of dirty words we aren’t supposed to say, words like bum; the attraction of conspiracy, of collusion.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
