double entendre

American  

[duhb-uhl ahn-tahn-druh, -tahnd, doo-blahn-tahn-dr^uh] / ˈdʌb əl ɑnˈtɑn drə, -ˈtɑnd, du blɑ̃ˈtɑ̃ drə /

noun

plural

double entendres

1. a double meaning.

2. a word or expression used in a given context so that it can be understood in two ways, especially when one meaning is risqué.

---

double entendre British  

/ dubl ɑ̃tɑ̃drə, ˈdʌbəl ɑːnˈtɑːndrə, -ˈtɑːnd /

noun

1. a word, phrase, etc, that can be interpreted in two ways, esp one having one meaning that is indelicate

2. the type of humour that depends upon such ambiguity

---

double-entendre Cultural  

1. A word or expression that has two different meanings (in French, double-entendre means “double meaning”), one of which is often bawdy or indelicate. A double-entendre is found in this sentence: “A nudist camp is simply a place where men and women meet to air their differences.”

---

Usage

What else does double entendre mean? A double entendre is a word or expression that can be understood in two ways, especially when one meaning is risqué. If you've ever cracked a that's what she said joke, you've created a double entendre.

Etymology

Origin of double entendre

From obsolete French, dating back to 1665–75; double, intend

Example Sentences

Hoping to give her blessing and her mother’s wedding ring to her son — “The Family Stone” remains a very clever double entendre — Sybil’s plans are quickly thwarted by this realization.

From Salon

The series’ title is a meta double entendre referencing the strife we put ourselves through just trying to keep up appearances, as well as Skinner’s creative style.

From Salon

The title “Foe” is also a pun, though the rest of the movie is not so offensively bad as that double entendre; it’s just so lacking in substance and momentum as to be entirely inert.

From Los Angeles Times

“I mean, it has to fit with secular society. It’s got to have some double entendre about the Gospel.”

From Washington Times

The operative literary device is the double entendre.

From New York Times

Related Words

• innuendo
• pun