bollocks

plural noun

bol·​locks ˈbä-ləks How to pronounce bollocks (audio)
1
chiefly British, usually vulgar : testicles
2
chiefly British, usually vulgar : nonsense

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Vivienne Westwood inspired my career as a designer with bravery and bollocks. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 30 Dec. 2022 Vivienne Westwood inspired my career as a designer with bravery and bollocks. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 30 Dec. 2022 Do people go on at you about left-brain-right-brain bollocks? Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 7 July 2012 Vivienne Westwood inspired my career as a designer with bravery and bollocks. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 30 Dec. 2022 Vivienne Westwood inspired my career as a designer with bravery and bollocks. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 29 Dec. 2022 Somehow, this study turns into bollocks about bossy women. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 24 Sep. 2011 The film was controversial in director Panos H. Koutras's home country of Greece, but that controversy is all bollocks. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 30 Nov. 2022 Never mind the bollocks, see an exclusive image from Pistol above. Clark Collis, EW.com, 11 May 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bollocks.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

alteration of ballocks, plural of ballock testis, from Middle English, from Old English bealluc — more at ball

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bollocks was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near bollocks

Cite this Entry

“Bollocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bollocks. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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