double entendre

noun

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dou·ble en·ten·dre | \ ˈdə-bəl-än-ˈtänd(-rə)

How to pronounce double entendre (audio)

, ˈdüb-ᵊl-äⁿ-ˈtäⁿd(rᵊ)

plural double entendres\ ˈdə-bəl-än-ˈtänd(-rə)

, ˈdüb-ᵊl-äⁿ-ˈtäⁿd(rᵊ)(z)

also ˈdüb-ᵊl-äⁿ-ˈtäⁿz ; ˈdə-bəl-än-ˈtän-drəz \

Definition of double entendre

1 linguistics : a word or expression capable of two interpretations with one usually risqué flirty talk full of double entendres

2 literature : ambiguity of meaning arising from language that lends itself to more than one interpretation

What is the Difference Between a double entendre and a pun? More Example Sentences Learn More About double entendre

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What is the Difference Between a double entendre and a pun?

The words double entendre and pun are both about double meanings. Double entendre, in fact, originated in an obsolete expression in French, which means “double meaning.” The origins of pun are less certain, but it likely traces to the Italian word puntiglio meaning “fine point, quibble.” In English, double entendre refers to a double meaning in which one meaning is usually shocking or risqué in its sexual suggestiveness. Pun usually has more to do with silly or humorous double meanings than with anything sexually suggestive or lewd.

Examples of double entendre in a Sentence

The song's title is a double entendre.

Recent Examples on the Web There Were True Meme-able Moments Viktor & Rolf, masters of the couture double entendre, built an entire show as a meditation on not just the brocade and bejeweled trappings, but the actual meaning of royalty (kind of a hot button topic these days). — New York Times, 10 July 2021 The bar's party atmosphere and drinks menu ripe with double entendre are hard to miss. — Tirion Morris, The Arizona Republic, 8 Apr. 2021 The sybaritic Bond was an ace with women, a master of intricate weaponry and the double entendre, a cultured vinophile (who preferred martinis — shaken, not stirred) and a violent thug who wore bespoke tuxedos. — Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2020 Not content with a mere double entendre, Elon Musk hits at least three. — Spencer Jakab, WSJ, 7 July 2020 Most kids’ animation is pap: conventions and tropes punched up with smarmy double entendre for the benefit of the adults who bought the tickets. — Rumaan Alam, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2020 Cantonese is supple, playful, full of puns and double entendres. — Yi-ling Liu, Harper's Magazine, 31 Aug. 2019 Take a Fuddruckers ad from the early 1980s that is rife with double entendres. — Maria Cramer, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2020 Each time that the pair meets up, their conversation is shrouded in innuendo and double entendre. — Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 31 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'double entendre.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near double entendre

double Englishman's knot

double entendre

double entry

Statistics for double entendre

Last Updated

23 Jul 2021

Cite this Entry

“Double entendre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double%20entendre. Accessed 10 Sep. 2021.

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