smut
C1Informal (for obscene meaning), Technical (for plant disease).
Definition
Meaning
obscene or indecent material; a small, dirty mark.
Material dealing with sexual matters in a manner considered indecent. Also, a fungal plant disease that leaves black, sooty-looking spores.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is polysemous with two main unrelated senses: 1) Indecent content. 2) A mark or stain, or a plant disease. The indecent meaning is far more common in modern general usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the word similarly for the 'indecent material' sense. The plant disease sense is more common in agricultural contexts in both regions.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotation regarding indecency in both varieties. The word is direct and somewhat crude.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English, possibly due to historical print culture references ('smutty novels').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of smutV smutADJ smutVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a smut on his reputation (archaic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in content moderation contexts (e.g., 'filtering out smut').
Academic
Rare in formal work; may appear in media studies or literary criticism discussing censorship.
Everyday
Used informally to criticise sexually explicit books, films, or jokes.
Technical
In botany/agriculture: 'corn smut', 'loose smut of barley'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The scandal smutted his previously clean record.
- Don't smut up a good story with crude jokes.
American English
- The soot from the chimney smutted the white curtains.
- He's always smutting the conversation.
adverb
British English
- The comedian joked smuttily about the politician.
American English
- He winked smuttily across the bar.
adjective
British English
- He told a rather smutty joke.
- I found the film a bit smutty for my taste.
American English
- The book was banned for its smutty passages.
- He has a collection of smutty magazines.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children got smut on their clothes from the old fireplace.
- The old book was considered smutty in its time.
- The barley crop was ruined by smut.
- Critics dismissed the novel as mere smut, lacking any literary value.
- He was accused of peddling smut online.
- The barrister argued that the magazine's content crossed the line from satire into outright smut.
- Agricultural scientists have developed a strain resistant to loose smut.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SMUT: Sexual Material Usually Taboo.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRT IS IMMORALITY / CORRUPTION IS A STAIN.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'смутьян' (troublemaker). Also, avoid using it as a casual synonym for 'joke' or 'funny story'; it specifically implies indecency.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean simply 'a sad story' or 'bad news'. Incorrect: 'The film about the war was such a smut.'
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'smut' LEAST likely be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, for its primary meaning (indecent material), it is informal and quite direct. Its other meaning (plant disease) is technical.
Yes, but it's rare. It means to make dirty or stain, or to tarnish morally. (e.g., 'The scandal smutted his name.')
'Smut' is a more judgmental, derogatory term implying tastelessness and lack of value. 'Pornography' is a more neutral, descriptive term, though also often used pejoratively.
Yes, the adjective 'smutty' (e.g., 'a smutty joke') is frequently used in everyday informal English to describe something indecent or lewd.