four-letter

adjective

four-let·​ter ˈfȯr-ˈle-tər How to pronounce four-letter (audio)
: of, relating to, or being four-letter words

Examples of four-letter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The blue-and-yellow, four-letter logo adorns more than half the credit and debit cards Americans keep in a wallet sleeve or in a digital app. Brandon Holveck, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 Most notably, the album is not a four-letter title as fans expected, after her 2021 debut, Sour, and 2023’s Guts. Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026 Where did the four-word, four-letter line come from? David Weigel, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026 Several four-letter c-words are used liberally. Katherine Turman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for four-letter

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of four-letter was in 1897

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Cite this Entry

“Four-letter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/four-letter. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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