bawdy
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- bawdily adverb
- bawdiness noun
Etymology
Origin of bawdy
Explanation
Bawdy describes humor that is vulgar or off-color. Things that are bawdy are a little inappropriate, intended to be funny, and definitely not the kind of things you want to say in school. Bawdy jokes are inappropriate, but they're not totally explicit or graphic — a movie with a little bit of bawdy humor might be rated PG-13, rather than R. Still, you probably don't want to recite bawdy poems in front of your fussy Aunt Irma, your clergyperson, or your math teacher. The exact etymology of this word is uncertain, but it is formed from the Middle English noun bawd, meaning "a lewd or licentious person."
Vocabulary lists containing bawdy
Top 50 Wordle Words of 2024
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"Hatred," Vocabulary from the poem
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Copper Sun
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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.
A Sunday People poll of 600 viewers showed 56% of respondents didn't like the first episode, with complaints over "coarse" and "bawdy" dialogue.
From BBC • Feb. 15, 2025
LaBelle, by contrast, is a whirlwind of manic adolescent enthusiasm: Brash and boisterous, a cross between Kevin McCallister and Steve Stifler, he’s the movie’s bawdy M.V.P.
From New York Times • Mar. 14, 2024
Big, bawdy, political, serious and very fun, the show opened to rapturous reviews.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2024
With roles in everything from bawdy and brutal live-action teen comedy to animated film to kitchen-based dramedy, Edebiri landed a spot as one of The Associated Press’ Breakthrough Entertainers of 2023.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 13, 2023
Her bright voice fills my room like the music of a lute, and she is like a troubadour with her tales, though none are bawdy or bad.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
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.
