half-ass
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: half-arse
Meaning · English
Produced in an incompetent or desultory manner, or of something lacking in quality or substance; of low rank; incompetent.
Register: slang, vulgar
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
the only abortion she could get even in the city would be a half-ass job by some half-ass doctor who could mess her up for the rest of her life
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).
Common questions
What does “half-ass” mean?
Produced in an incompetent or desultory manner, or of something lacking in quality or substance; of low rank; incompetent.
Is “half-ass” formal or informal?
half-ass is generally slang, vulgar.