bawdy
C1Informal, Literary, Historical
Definition
Meaning
Humorously indecent or lewd, dealing with sexual matters in a comical, coarse, or unrestrained way.
Pertaining to or characteristic of the type of humor, language, or entertainment found in old comedies, ballads, or farces that relies on sexual innuendo and ribaldry.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a lack of refinement but is often associated with a sense of good-humored, earthy fun rather than aggressive obscenity. It often carries a historical or theatrical connotation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in UK historical/literary contexts (e.g., 'bawdy house' as an archaic legal term).
Connotations
Similar in both varieties: humorous indecency, often old-fashioned.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but perhaps marginally higher in UK due to more common reference to historical 'bawdy' comedies and ballads.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Adj] + [N] (e.g., bawdy humour)a [N] of [Adj] (e.g., a night of bawdy entertainment)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bawdy house (archaic for brothel)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literary, historical, or theatre studies to describe a genre or style.
Everyday
Rare; used to describe humor or jokes of a sexual nature.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (No standard verb form in modern use)
American English
- (No standard verb form in modern use)
adverb
British English
- (Rare/archaic; 'bawdily') The ballad was bawdily performed.
American English
- (Rare/archaic; 'bawdily') He chuckled bawdily at the innuendo.
adjective
British English
- The comedian's act was full of traditional bawdy humour.
- They sang a few bawdy rugby songs on the coach home.
American English
- The movie had a bawdy sense of humor that wasn't for everyone.
- He told a few bawdy jokes at the bachelor party.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The play is a bawdy farce from the 18th century.
- Some of his jokes were a bit too bawdy for the formal dinner.
- Shakespeare often incorporated bawdy puns for the groundlings in his audience.
- The historian analyzed the role of bawdy ballads in working-class culture.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a loud, BOISTEROUS crowd at a comedy show telling DIRTY jokes. BOISTEROUS + DIRTY = BAWDY.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEXUALITY IS A LOW/COARSE FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'грубый' (rude/coarse) which is broader. 'Bawdy' is specifically coarse in a humorous, sexual way. Closer to 'непристойный' but with a connotation of fun.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean simply 'dirty' or 'filthy' in a non-humorous, non-sexual context (e.g., 'bawdy clothes').
- Pronouncing it like 'body'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'bawdy' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently, but it describes rude content. It is a descriptive term, often used in a neutral or even appreciative way for a certain style of humor.
'Bawdy' is humorous and suggestive, relying on innuendo and wit. 'Pornographic' is explicitly intended to sexually arouse and is not primarily comedic.
It's more common to describe a person's humor, language, or actions (e.g., 'a bawdy comedian') rather than the person's essence. 'Bawdy' is not a personality trait like 'funny' or 'kind'.
It is an archaic legal and historical term for a brothel. It is not used in modern, everyday language except in historical contexts.
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