vulgar term
- noun
- /ˈvʌlɡər tɜrm/
- Offensive
- He used a vulgar term during the argument that offended everyone present.
Examples
-
The comedian's jokes often rely on vulgar terms that some audience members find distasteful.
-
She avoided using any vulgar terms in her speech to maintain a respectful tone.
-
- A vulgar term.
Synonyms
Sexual or rude material that offends people
A bad word said in anger
Strong rude words that shock or upset people
Words that are rude and upset people, often about religion
A word people think is rude or not polite
A rude word people say to show strong anger or surprise
A rude word people say when they are angry
A rude word that is not for children
An offensive or rude word considered inappropriate in polite speech
A rude word people say when they are angry or surprised
A rude word people use when angry or to insult someone
Antonyms
How Offensive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'an expression that is crude or offensive' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'vulgar' (indecent or obscene) with 'term' (a word or phrase). This simple adjective+noun composition follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The phrase vulgar term joins vulgar (a word that once meant 'common people') and term ('word'), and over time vulgar came to mean 'rude' or 'coarse'. So vulgar term now means a rude or offensive word, often about sex or the body.