piss: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High in informal/vulgar contexts; low in formal contexts.Vulgar slang, taboo in polite/formal situations.
Quick answer
What does “piss” mean?
To urinate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To urinate; urine.
To express anger, contempt, or frustration; to waste something; something of very poor quality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK usage includes 'pissed' meaning 'drunk'. US usage uses 'pissed' to mean 'angry'. Both share the vulgar meaning for urinate.
Connotations
Equally vulgar/taboo in both dialects. Slightly more integrated into mild swearing/phrasal verbs in UK English (e.g., 'piss about').
Frequency
Comparably frequent in informal speech in both dialects, but subject to strong social constraints.
Grammar
How to Use “piss” in a Sentence
PISS (intransitive verb)PISS + [object] + away (phrasal verb)PISS off (phrasal verb)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “piss” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I need to piss.
- Stop pissing about and get to work.
- He pissed all his winnings away at the pub.
American English
- I gotta piss.
- That movie pissed me off.
- He just pissed away a golden opportunity.
adverb
British English
- It's pissing down with rain again.
- He ran pissing fast to catch the bus.
American English
- It's pissing rain outside.
- He drove pissing slow in the fast lane.
adjective
British English
- He was absolutely pissed by midnight.
- That's a piss-poor attempt at gardening.
American English
- She was really pissed at her brother.
- We're stuck with this piss-poor internet connection.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare and unprofessional. May appear in extreme frustration, but is a major faux pas.
Academic
Virtually non-existent except in specific analyses of slang/taboo language.
Everyday
Common in informal speech among peers, but heavily context-dependent and considered rude.
Technical
Not used in medical/technical contexts; clinical terms like 'urinate', 'micturate', or 'urea' are preferred.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “piss”
- Using it in formal writing or with superiors/strangers. Confusing 'pissed' (UK drunk / US angry). Overusing as a generic intensifier.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered vulgar slang and is inappropriate in all formal, academic, and professional writing.
In both, it can mean 'to anger someone'. In the UK, it also commonly means 'to go away' (as an imperative: 'Piss off!').
Yes. For urination: 'urinate', 'wee', 'pee' (informal). For wasting: 'squander', 'fritter away'. For anger: 'annoy', 'irritate'.
The origin is unclear but is thought to relate to the idea of extracting the 'essence' (like urine from beer) from someone through mockery, or deflating their pretensions.
To urinate.
Piss: in British English it is pronounced /pɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /pɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take the piss (out of someone)”
- “piss in the wind”
- “piss and vinegar”
- “piss money up the wall”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a hissing sound (psss) to remember the act it refers to. Remember it's Potentially Insulting Social Speech.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER IS A PRESSURIZED LIQUID (He pissed me off). WASTE IS FLOWING AWAY LIQUID (He pissed away his inheritance).
Practice
Quiz
In British English, 'He's pissed' most likely means: