bawdy

1 of 2

adjective

ˈbȯ-dē 

bawdier; bawdiest

1

: boisterously or humorously indecent

bawdy jokes

2

: obscene, lewd

a bawdy comedian

bawdily

ˈbȯ-də-lē 

adverb

bawdiness

ˈbȯ-dē-nəs 

noun

bawdy

2 of 2

noun

: bawdry sense 2

Synonyms of bawdy

Adjective

• obscene
• vulgar
• pornographic
• nasty
• foul
• dirty
• filthy
• suggestive
• ribald

Examples of bawdy in a Sentence

Adjective

a bawdy film that is not appropriate for children

a bawdy comment about someone you work with could get you fired

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Cruz surfaces in it as a bawdy cabaret singer, a role the size of a cameo that critics off the Croisette and now here at Telluride have already tagged a scene-stealer. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

When James Graham’s play Ink premiered in London in 2017 and jumped to Broadway two years later, director Rupert Goold infused the drama with rollercoaster momentum, extravagant musical flourishes and jolts of bawdy low comedy. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

With the candy-floss hair and knock-‘em-out curves, Dolly Parton has made a living off her bawdy, larger-than-life image. — Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

What started as an idea for a variety show about her life in late 2017 became a bawdy, self-deprecating song-and-dance extravaganza following her arrest that Christmas Eve. — Luisa Opalesky, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

bawd + -y entry 1

Noun

probably from bawdy entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bawdy

• bawdy house

Rhymes for bawdy

• body
• gaudy
• khadi
• mahdi
• noddy
• oddi
• shoddy
• toddy
• waddy
• afterbody
• antibody
• busybody

Kids Definition

bawdy

adjective

ˈbȯd-ē

bawdier; bawdiest

: morally objectionable : obscene

bawdily

ˈbȯd-ᵊl-ē

adverb

bawdiness

ˈbȯd-ē-nəs

noun