prudery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, critical
Quick answer
What does “prudery” mean?
Excessive or affected modesty, especially in matters related to sex or bodily functions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Excessive or affected modesty, especially in matters related to sex or bodily functions.
The behaviour or attitude of a person who is extremely or overly concerned with propriety and decorum, often to the point of being judgmental or hypocritical about the behaviour of others; a censorious moralism focused on suppressing what is deemed indecent or sexually suggestive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition. Usage is similar in both varieties.
Connotations
Consistently pejorative in both BrE and AmE. May be associated with Victorian-era social attitudes or certain religious conservatism.
Frequency
Low-frequency, literary/analytic term in both dialects. Possibly slightly more common in BrE historical/cultural commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “prudery” in a Sentence
[adjective] + pruderyprudery + [prepositional phrase (about/of)]verb (condemn/reject/accuse of) + pruderyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prudery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not applicable - prudery is a noun. The related verb is 'prude' which is not standard.]
American English
- [Not applicable - prudery is a noun. The related verb is 'prude' which is not standard.]
adverb
British English
- prudishly
- He prudishly averted his eyes.
American English
- prudishly
- She commented prudishly on the film's content.
adjective
British English
- prudish
- prudish attitudes
- a prudish reaction
American English
- prudish
- prudish regulations
- a prudish viewpoint
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in discussions of corporate culture or advertising ethics (e.g., 'The ad campaign was rejected due to the board's prudery.').
Academic
Common in literary criticism, cultural studies, history, and gender studies to analyse social attitudes.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual speech. Used in more thoughtful discussion or criticism of social norms.
Technical
Not a technical term in most fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “prudery”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “prudery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prudery”
- Misspelling as 'prudary' or 'prudrey'. Using it as a positive trait. Confusing it with simple 'shyness'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern usage it is almost exclusively pejorative, implying excessive, affected, or hypocritical modesty.
Modesty is a generally positive or neutral quality of reserve in behaviour. Prudery is an exaggerated, often insincere form of it that is imposed on or used to judge others.
Primarily sexual, but it can extend to excessive modesty about bodily functions, nudity, or strong language. Its core is about policing 'indecency'.
A 'prude'. The adjective is 'prudish'.
Excessive or affected modesty, especially in matters related to sex or bodily functions.
Prudery is usually formal, critical in register.
Prudery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpruːdəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈprudəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PRUDE judging everyone. PRUDERY is the behaviour of that prude.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORALITY/ MODESTY IS A CONTAINER ("burst the bounds of Victorian prudery"), PRUDERY IS A MASK ("hypocrisy behind a veil of prudery")
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'prudery' in a critical context?