letch: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, derogatory, slang
Quick answer
What does “letch” mean?
A strong, persistent, and unwholesome sexual desire or lust.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A strong, persistent, and unwholesome sexual desire or lust; a person with such a desire.
Often implies a lecherous, predatory, or socially inappropriate quality in the desire or the person described. It can also function as a verb meaning 'to behave in a lecherous manner'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is recognised in both varieties but is considered a non-standard, colloquial variant of 'lecher' or a back-formation from 'lecherous'. Usage patterns are similar.
Connotations
Universally negative, implying vulgarity, creepiness, or a lack of self-control.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both. More likely to be encountered in informal spoken contexts, tabloid journalism, or older literature than in formal writing.
Grammar
How to Use “letch” in a Sentence
[Noun] be a letch[Noun] call [Pronoun] a letch[Verb] to letch after/over [Noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “letch” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He spent the whole party leching at the waitresses.
- Stop leching over my sister!
American English
- The guy at the bar was totally leching on every woman who walked in.
- He got fired for leching after his assistant.
adverb
British English
- [No established adverbial form.]
American English
- [No established adverbial form.]
adjective
British English
- [Standard adjective is 'lecherous'. 'Letch' is not standard as an adjective.]
American English
- [Standard adjective is 'lecherous'. 'Letch' is not standard as an adjective.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used; highly inappropriate.
Academic
Not used; too informal and pejorative.
Everyday
Used in very informal, often derogatory descriptions of someone's behaviour.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “letch”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “letch”
- Misspelling as 'leach' (to drain) or 'leech' (a parasite). Confusing the noun 'letch' with the adjective 'lecherous'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially, yes. It is a colloquial, often more derogatory variant. 'Lecher' is the standard noun, though also informal.
Yes, though it's less common than the noun. It means 'to act like a letch' or 'to look at with lecherous desire' (e.g., 'to letch after someone').
It is quite offensive and derogatory. It is a strong term of moral judgement and should be avoided in polite or formal conversation.
Both are pejorative. 'Letch' focuses on excessive, crude sexual desire, often directed outwardly. 'Pervert' implies a deviation from a norm and can cover a wider range of sexual behaviours considered abnormal or harmful.
A strong, persistent, and unwholesome sexual desire or lust.
Letch is usually informal, derogatory, slang in register.
Letch: in British English it is pronounced /lɛtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /lɛtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No strong, fixed idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'LETCH' sounds like 'LEECH' – both are unpleasant, clingy, and you want to get rid of them.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESIRE IS HUNGER (He leched after her). A LECHEROUS PERSON IS A PREDATOR (The old letch at the bar).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'letch' be MOST appropriate?