bad words
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Words not always bad of themselves but unpleasant to "ears polite," from their vulgar associations.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “bad words” mean?
Words not always bad of themselves but unpleasant to "ears polite," from their vulgar associations.
Is “bad words” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.