four-letter word

[ fawr-let-er, fohr- ]

noun

1. any of a number of short words, usually of four letters, considered offensive or vulgar because of their reference to excrement or sex.
2. any word, typically of four letters, that represents something forbidden, disliked, or regarded with extreme distaste:

   In the dieter's vocabulary, “cake” is a four-letter word.

four-letter word

noun

1. any of several short English words referring to sex or excrement: often used as swearwords and regarded generally as offensive or obscene

Word History and Origins

Origin of four-letter word¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Idioms and Phrases

Any of several short English words that are generally regarded as vulgar or obscene. For example, No four-letter words are permitted in this classroom . This expression is applied mostly to words describing excretory or sexual functions. [First half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

“I did miss on a four-letter word, so my weakness tends to be those super short, tricky words, and I worked on compiling those into one list,” Shradha said.

From Seattle Times

He’d miss the other corner of the strike zone, and frustratingly blurt out a four-letter word.

From Los Angeles Times

“Every time that dirty four-letter word called ‘compromise’ comes up,” Boebert fumed, “it’s always Republicans stepping away from their principles, their platform, your priorities and siding with socialists, communists and Marxists.”

From Los Angeles Times

“You have the right to use four-letter words.”

From Seattle Times

And out of her mouth comes a four-letter word completely unsuitable for broadcast on BBC Breakfast.

From BBC

Related Words

• expletive
• obscenity
• profanity
• vulgarity