prude
Americannoun
-
prudes
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of prude
First recorded in 1695–1705; from French prude “a prude” (noun), “prudish” (adjective), short for prudefemme, Old French prodefeme “worthy or respectable woman,” equivalent to proud + feme
Explanation
Use prude to describe someone who is too concerned with being proper or modest. It is a derogatory label affixed most often to people who are not forthcoming romantically — and it's not very nice. To be prude is to be prudent, or careful. That’s not a bad thing, but prude is usually an insult. A prude might gasp when someone says a bad word. Prude was borrowed from French, short for prude femme "wise and good woman." Though the word took on a negative meaning, Old French prud also meant "capable or brave" and is probably the source of English proud.
Vocabulary lists containing prude
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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:
I’d rather be called a prude than acquiesce to society’s slow drift into vice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
“I’ve been reminded that I’m a prude of an English boy.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2025
Anthony Comstock, the chief prude for whom the act is named, was an enthusiastic book-banner and suffragist-opposer.
From Slate ● Apr. 17, 2024
Anthony Comstock, a 19th-century crusader against sexual liberty, was mocked as a prude in his own time, but wielded real power.
From New York Times ● May 16, 2023
Miranda had always been such a prude about clothes, and here she was all pink-haired and tube- topped.
From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio
From the start of arguments, it’s clear that the current bench is divided into prudes and cool kids.
From Slate ● Apr. 15, 2019
If 2018 prudes want to interpret the lyrics as something else; the problem obviously lies in their own minds not in the original lyrics.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 12, 2018
Anybody who begrudged her that beer given the conflagration raiding her leg would qualify for a hall of fame of prudes.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 23, 2018
“You are talking to two of the biggest prudes in the world,” Ms. Ashford said.
From New York Times ● Jan. 13, 2014
“And those people calling you a prude were prudes once, too,” she adds.
From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King
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.
