cussword
C2Informal
Definition
Meaning
A taboo or offensive word, typically one that is considered obscene or blasphemous.
Any word considered socially unacceptable in polite or formal contexts; used more broadly than just obscenity to include ethnic slurs or severe insults.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used when discussing language itself rather than as a direct insult; synonymous with 'swear word' but sometimes perceived as a more informal or slightly euphemistic variant.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more common in American English. In British English, 'swear word' is the dominant term, with 'cuss' being recognized but perceived as an Americanism.
Connotations
In American usage, 'cuss' and 'cussword' can have a slightly folksy, informal, or old-fashioned tone. In British usage, it may sound distinctly American.
Frequency
Low frequency in the UK; moderate informal frequency in the US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He let out a string of ~s.The film was full of ~s.What's that ~ you just used?Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not a cussword to be heard”
- “every cussword in the book”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare and inappropriate; would only appear in discussions about policy (e.g., 'The employee handbook prohibits the use of cusswords.')
Academic
Used in linguistic, sociological, or media studies contexts when analysing informal language.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation, especially when admonishing or discussing children's language.
Technical
Not a technical term, but appears in content rating descriptions for films, TV, and games.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He started to cuss quietly under his breath.
- I heard him cussing at the broken printer.
American English
- Don't cuss in front of your grandmother!
- He cussed a blue streak when he stubbed his toe.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; 'cussingly' is virtually non-existent.)
American English
- (Not standard; 'cussingly' is virtually non-existent.)
adjective
British English
- He's got a terribly cussing habit.
- (Rare as an adjective; 'swearing' is preferred.)
American English
- She gave him a cussing-out for being late.
- His cussing vocabulary was impressively vast.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'Shut up' is not a nice word, but it is not a cussword.
- Children should not say cusswords.
- The teacher told him off for using a cussword in class.
- I don't like films with too many cusswords.
- He muttered a cussword as he dropped the heavy box on his foot.
- The article analysed the use of cusswords in modern political discourse.
- Despite the heated argument, she refrained from uttering a single cussword.
- The linguist's thesis explored the grammaticalisation of certain cusswords into discourse markers.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CUSS' sounding like 'curse' - a CUSS-WORD is a CURSE-WORD.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRTY OBJECT ('dirty word', 'filthy language'), WEAPON ('he hurled a cussword at me'), TABOO.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation to 'ругательное слово' as it's too broad; better to use 'бранное слово' or 'нецензурное слово'.
- Don't confuse with 'curse' (проклятие) which implies a wish for harm; a 'cussword' is the specific offensive word itself.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'cuss word' (two words) is common, but 'cussword' (one word) is the standard dictionary form.
- Using it as a direct insult instead of a label for a type of word (e.g., 'You cussword!' is incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'cussword' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'cussword' is a descriptive, neutral term for a type of word. It is not taboo, though it is informal.
They are essentially synonyms. 'Cuss' is a dialectal variant of 'curse', so 'cussword' is more informal and primarily American.
Yes, it can refer to any word considered severely offensive in a social context, including blasphemy, scatological terms, and severe insults.
The standard dictionary form is one word: 'cussword'. However, the two-word form 'cuss word' is very common in informal writing.