prude

[ prood ]

noun

1. a person who is excessively proper or modest in speech, conduct, dress, etc.

prude

/ pruːd /

noun

1. a person who affects or shows an excessively modest, prim, or proper attitude, esp regarding sex

Derived Forms

• ˈprudish, adjective
• ˈprudishness, noun
• ˈprudishly, adverb

Other Words From

• prudelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prude¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of prude¹

C18: from French, from prudefemme, from Old French prode femme respectable woman; see proud

Example Sentences

The group is active in the Black Lives Matter movement and called for change following the death of Daniel Prude, a 41-year-old Black man, who died in police custody in Rochester in 2020.

From Seattle Times

Doorley faced calls for her resignation after deciding not to charge the police officers who had arrested Prude.

From Seattle Times

Anthony Comstock, the chief prude for whom the act is named, was an enthusiastic book-banner and suffragist-opposer.

From Slate

Anthony Comstock, the infamous prude who was behind the law, was much like Charlie Kirk, in that his misogynist intent was never far beneath the surface.

From Salon

As a result of the hypersexualization, Portman also said that she had to build a fortress and projected an image of a "prude" to protect herself.

From Salon