ribald
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ribald
1200–50; Middle English ribald, ribaud (noun) < Old French ribau ( l ) d, equivalent to rib ( er ) to be licentious (< Old High German rīben to copulate, be in heat, literally, rub) + -au ( l ) d, -alt < Frankish *-wald a suffix in personal names, derivative of *walden to rule; compare parallel development of -ard
Explanation
Something ribald is funny, but in a vulgar or off-color way. If someone makes a ribald joke in class, she will probably be sent to the principal's office. The word ribald can be used to describe a joke, a movie, or even a person, like a ribald comedian on a late-night talk show. Ribald humor is generally considered to be inappropriate around children, and if you make a ribald comment, you might inadvertently offend someone. This word derives from an Old French word meaning "rogue" or "debauched."
Vocabulary lists containing ribald
Dracula
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The Killer Angels
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A Dance with Dragons
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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.
Disorderly in its construction, “Tristram Shandy” is ribald and risqué in its content, yet charitable and affecting in tone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026
Bombastic, unrepentant, with a ribald sense of humor and a defense that leaned heavily into his desire to make Germany great again, Göring came out swinging.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2025
Whether Gifford is throwing out ribald euphemisms or Kotb's inspirational quotes are being derailed, the show’s pure magnetism is obvious and unrivaled.
From Salon ● Jan. 10, 2025
But in an editorial in Tuesday's memorial edition, the paper's main shareholder said its spirit of ribald anti-religious irreverence was still very much alive.
From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2025
There will doubtless be thousands of ribald failures, but in the world’s history artists have always been drawn where they are welcome and well treated.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
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.
