prude
C1Informal, often pejorative
Definition
Meaning
A person who is excessively concerned with modesty or propriety, especially in sexual matters.
Someone who is overly strict or easily shocked by matters relating to sex, bodily functions, or frank language; often implying hypocrisy or exaggerated sensitivity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term carries a judgmental tone and suggests the person's attitude is excessive, old-fashioned, or hypocritical. It is more about perceived attitude than actual behavior.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are largely identical. Slight cultural difference in what constitutes 'prudish' behavior.
Connotations
Equally pejorative in both variants. May be slightly more common in British English commentary on social manners.
Frequency
Similar moderate frequency in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be a prudeact like a prudecall someone a prudeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms with 'prude' as the key word.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used informally to describe someone overly strict about office humour or dress code.
Academic
Rare in formal writing. May appear in literary criticism, sociology, or gender studies discussing character or social attitudes.
Everyday
Most common. Used in personal conversation and informal writing to criticise someone's perceived oversensitivity.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He is a bit of a prude.
- Don't be such a prude—it's just a silly joke.
- She was labelled a prude by her friends because she refused to watch the explicit film.
- His prudish exterior belied a surprisingly ribald sense of humour that emerged among close confidants.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'prude' being 'prudish' about 'rude' things.
Conceptual Metaphor
MODESTY IS A SHIELD / PURITY IS A CONSTRAINT
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'пуританка' as it's more specific. 'Prude' is more about exaggerated personal sensitivity than a strict religious doctrine. The pejorative tone is stronger in 'prude'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective (incorrect: 'She is very prude.'). Correct: 'She is very prudish.' or 'She is a prude.'
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'prude'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the correct adjective form is 'prudish'. 'Prude' is only a noun.
It is nearly always pejorative, implying the person's modesty is excessive or hypocritical. It is rarely, if ever, a compliment.
Historically and stereotypically applied more often to women, but it is applicable to any gender in modern usage.
A 'puritan' is specifically associated with a strict Protestant religious ethic. A 'prude' is a more general term for a person with exaggerated personal modesty, not necessarily based on religion.