bad
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Bold, daring, and tough.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
He's the baddest guy in town!
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Good, superlative, excellent, cool.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
Overly promiscuous, licentious.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “bad” mean?
Bold, daring, and tough.
Is “bad” formal or informal?
bad is generally slang.