expletive

American  

[ek-spli-tiv] / ˈɛk splɪ tɪv /

noun

1. an interjectory word or expression, frequently profane; an exclamatory oath.

2. a syllable, word, or phrase serving to fill out.

3. Grammar. a word considered as regularly filling the syntactic position of another, as it in It is his duty to go, or there in There is nothing here.

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adjective

1. Also expletory added merely to fill out a sentence or line, give emphasis, etc..

   Expletive remarks padded the speech.

expletive British  

/ ɪkˈspliːtɪv /

noun

1. an exclamation or swearword; an oath or a sound expressing an emotional reaction rather than any particular meaning

2. any syllable, word, or phrase conveying no independent meaning, esp one inserted in a line of verse for the sake of the metre

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adjective

1. expressing no particular meaning, esp when filling out a line of verse

expletive Cultural  

1. Any exclamation or oath, especially one that is obscene or profane, as in “Dammit, I forgot to buy the milk.”

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Discover More

The Oval Office tapes of President Richard Nixon, released during the investigation of the Watergate scandal, made famous the phrase “expletive deleted,” which appeared frequently in expurgated transcripts of the tapes.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• expletively
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of expletive

1600–10; < Late Latin explētīvus serving to fill out, equivalent to Latin explēt ( us ) filled, filled up (past participle of explēre; see explement) + -īvus -ive

Explanation

An expletive is a swear word, a curse you let out when you are startled or mad. You probably already know a lot of expletives, but you don’t need to see them here, no way in heck. An expletive is a vulgar word that will greatly upset your grandmother if you say it in her presence. An expletive usually sneaks out because you get surprised or angry, like if you stub your toe, you might yell out an expletive. Even though you did it by accident, one of your parents still might put a bar of soap in your mouth, so watch your words. In a pinch, try these substitutes: fudge, sugar, heck, and walrus.

Example Sentences

Expletive syllables in the beginning of lines where the tune is sharp and gay are often an improvement, but they should never follow a double rhyme.

From Thomas Davis, Selections from his Prose and Poetry by Rolleston, T. W. (Thomas William)

Expletive cries of Maltese venders shot up, sudden and violent.

From The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1838 by Gillman, James

Is not Heav'nly as much an Expletive as O, and can either of these Couplets deserve to be plac'd in the Front of the Iliad?

From Letters Concerning Poetical Translations And Virgil's and Milton's Arts of Verse, &c. by Benson, William

Expletive, eks′ple-tiv, adj. filling out: added for ornament or merely to fill up.—n. a word or syllable inserted for ornament or to fill up a vacancy: an oath.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Related Words

• curse