batard: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Vulgar, informal, offensive, historical (in legal contexts).
Quick answer
What does “batard” mean?
A person born of parents not married to each other.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person born of parents not married to each other; an illegitimate child.
A cruel, unpleasant, or despicable person; something of inferior or irregular quality; a difficult or awkward thing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used in both varieties with similar core meanings. The affectionate/jocular use ('cheeky bastard', 'lucky bastard') is more established in UK informal speech. The term is generally considered a strong swear word in both.
Connotations
UK: Can range from highly offensive to mildly jocular depending heavily on context and intonation. US: Almost uniformly strong and offensive when applied to a person, though the 'difficult thing' sense (e.g., 'this problem is a bastard') is neutral.
Frequency
High frequency in informal spoken registers in both varieties, but more culturally embedded in UK colloquialisms.
Grammar
How to Use “batard” in a Sentence
[adj] + bastardbastard + of + [noun phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “batard” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- It was a bastard of a day at work.
- He's got a bastard of a commute.
American English
- This is a bastard bolt to remove.
- We faced some bastard weather on the hike.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare and inappropriate. If used, only in the sense of 'an awkward problem' (e.g., 'The logistics on this project are a real bastard'). Highly informal.
Academic
Only in historical/legal contexts discussing inheritance or social history. Not used in contemporary academic prose.
Everyday
Common in informal speech as a term of abuse or description. Use with extreme caution due to offensiveness.
Technical
In specific domains: 'bastard file' (a type of metal file), 'bastard sword' (a type of medieval sword), 'bastard title' (a publishing term for a half-title page). These uses are neutral and non-offensive.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “batard”
- Misspelling as 'batard' (the French bread is 'bâtard').
- Using it in formal or polite contexts.
- Overestimating the jocular tone in international contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost always when applied to a person. Exceptions are specific technical terms (e.g., bastard sword, bastard title) and, in very specific informal British contexts, it can be used with jocular affection among close friends, but this is high-risk for misunderstanding.
'Illegitimate child' is a formal, neutral (though now dated) legal and historical term. 'Bastard' is the old, blunt term for the same condition and is now considered vulgar and offensive when used in this sense.
Very rarely in modern English. The historical verb 'to bastardise' (to declare or render illegitimate; to corrupt) exists, but 'to bastard' is essentially obsolete.
The British pronunciation /ˈbɑː.stəd/ reflects the long 'a' sound common in words like 'bath' and 'grass' in Southern British English. The American pronunciation /ˈbæs.tɚd/ uses the short 'a' as in 'cat', and the 't' is often flapped, sounding like a 'd'.
A person born of parents not married to each other.
Batard is usually vulgar, informal, offensive, historical (in legal contexts). in register.
Batard: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɑː.stəd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbæs.tɚd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'bastard' file – it's a rough, coarse tool. The word 'bastard' itself is a rough, coarse term for a person.
Conceptual Metaphor
ILLEGITIMACY IS INFERIORITY / A BAD PERSON IS AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'bastard' considered a neutral, non-offensive technical term?