cuckold: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1literary, formal, archaic; can be vulgar or offensive in modern casual use.
Quick answer
What does “cuckold” mean?
A man whose wife is sexually unfaithful to him.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A man whose wife is sexually unfaithful to him.
To be betrayed by one's spouse through infidelity; more broadly, to be deceived or humiliated by a partner's actions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or literary contexts.
Connotations
Equally strong pejorative and archaic connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary spoken language in both regions. Appears primarily in historical texts, drama, or discussions of infidelity metaphors.
Grammar
How to Use “cuckold” in a Sentence
[Sb] cuckolds [Sb][Sb] is cuckolded by [Sb]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cuckold” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The nobleman discovered his servant had cuckolded him.
- In the play, the villain plots to cuckold his rival.
American English
- He felt utterly humiliated after being cuckolded by his business partner.
- The story revolves around a man who fears his friend will cuckold him.
adverb
British English
- This word is not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- This word is not typically used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The cuckolded king became a figure of mockery in the court.
- He played the cuckolded husband in the Restoration comedy.
American English
- The film portrayed the cuckolded character with surprising sympathy.
- He walked out of the meeting with a cuckolded expression.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, gender studies, historical sociology, and Shakespearean studies.
Everyday
Rare and potentially offensive. Mostly used in specific online subcultures with a modern, often political, metaphorical extension.
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cuckold”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cuckold”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cuckold”
- Using it to refer to a woman whose husband is unfaithful (incorrect gender).
- Using it in modern casual conversation without understanding its strongly derogatory/archaic tone.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is specifically and exclusively a term for a man whose wife is unfaithful. The female equivalent is 'cuckquean', but it is extremely rare and non-standard.
It is not typically classified among the strongest swear words, but it is a deeply insulting and humiliating term. Using it directly to label someone would be highly offensive.
It derives from the cuckoo bird (Old French 'cucuault'), based on the bird's habit of laying its eggs in other birds' nests, metaphorically linking to another man fathering a child in the husband's 'nest' (family).
In certain online political subcultures, it has been metaphorically extended (as 'cuck') to insult a man perceived as weak, submissive, or betraying his own group's interests, often stripping away the specific marital context.
A man whose wife is sexually unfaithful to him.
Cuckold is usually literary, formal, archaic; can be vulgar or offensive in modern casual use. in register.
Cuckold: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌkəʊld/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌkəld/ or /ˈkʌkoʊld/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “wear the horns (archaic)”
- “the cuckoo in the nest (related metaphor)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the cuckoo bird, which lays its eggs in other birds' nests. A 'cuckold' is a man in whose 'nest' (marriage/home) another man has 'laid' (fathered a child or had an affair).
Conceptual Metaphor
BETRAYAL IS ANIMAL BEHAVIOR (the cuckoo bird); HUMILIATION IS A PHYSICAL MARK (the 'horns' historically associated with a cuckold).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason 'cuckold' is rarely used in modern everyday conversation?