vulgarisms
Impolite spoken terms
Vulgarisms are words or expressions considered crude, coarse, or in poor taste—the vocabulary of rough speech rather than polite company.
The term covers both genuinely offensive language and merely low or unrefined expressions: His speech was peppered with vulgarisms.
Linguists use the term neutrally to categorize informal or taboo vocabulary.
Taboo vulgar expressions
- obscenitiesGrossly offensive language
- expletivesVulgar exclamations
- cursesSworn oaths or hexes
- four-letter wordsBrief vulgar expressions
cussing · foul language · dirty words · blasphemy · oaths · epithets · invective · maledictions
Characterizing phrases for people
- insultsDisparaging remarks
- pejorativesDisparaging or belittling words
- derogatory termsInsulting names for groups
- put-downsDisparaging remarks
Lack of sophistication
- coarsenessRough or vulgar quality
- boorishnessCrude, uncouth conduct
- tastelessnessLack of aesthetic judgment
- uncouthnessLack of polish
indelicacy · impropriety · bad manners · common speech · tactlessness · grossness · bathroom humor
Lewd content or soot
- lewdnessCrude sexual indecency
- ribaldryVulgar or indecent humor
- double entendresPhrases with dual interpretations
- dirty jokesCrude comedic remarks
swearwords
Taboo vulgar expressions
- obscenitiesGrossly offensive language
- expletivesVulgar exclamations
- cursesSworn oaths or hexes
four-letter words · cussing · foul language · dirty words · blasphemy · oaths · epithets · invective · maledictions · imprecations
epithets
Characterizing phrases for people
- insultsDisparaging remarks
- pejorativesDisparaging or belittling words
- derogatory termsInsulting names for groups
crudeness
Lack of sophistication
- coarsenessRough or vulgar quality
- boorishnessCrude, uncouth conduct
- tastelessnessLack of aesthetic judgment
uncouthness · indelicacy · impropriety · bad manners · common speech · tactlessness · grossness · bathroom humor
smut
Lewd content or soot
- lewdnessCrude sexual indecency
- ribaldryVulgar or indecent humor
- double entendresPhrases with dual interpretations
- slangslang, jargon, lingo, argot, cant
- dialectsregional dialect, local dialect, patois, vernaculars, vernacular