double entendre

noun dou·ble en·ten·dre \ ˈdüb-ᵊl-äⁿ-ˈtäⁿd(-rᵊ) ; ˈdə-bəl-än-ˈtänd(-rə) \

Updated on: 24 Mar 2018

Definition of double entendre

plural double entendres play \ same also -ˈtäⁿz; -ˈtän-drəz\

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

See double entendre defined for English-language learners

Examples of double entendre in a Sentence

The song's title is a double entendre.

Recent Examples of double entendre from the Web

Midland is not alone in its reverence for double entendres and crooked lines.

— tom roland, Billboard, "What In the Word? Bent Phrasing Is On the Rebound In Country Music," 21 Feb. 2018
Artistic director Kevin Stalheim explained that a number of pieces on the program would be loaded with double entendre on the words piece and peace.

— elaine schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Present Music takes a chance on unpredictable sounds," 23 Feb. 2018
Popular in England since the early 1700s, the panto is eccentric entertainment with comical characters, lots of audience participation and, though the show may be aimed at kids, the kind of double entendres that elicit a wicked chuckle from adults.

— f. kathleen foley, latimes.com, "The 99-Seat Beat: A theater in fire-scarred Ventura makes its holiday wish," 15 Dec. 2017
And then there's the grande dame, Lady Edith (Glenn Close), a shotgun-wielding aunt who pops up every now and again to elucidate some themes with glorious double entendres.

— katie walsh, latimes.com, "'Crooked House' delivers a thrilling Agatha Christie," 21 Dec. 2017
The article goes on, not surprisingly, to use several other double entendres in addressing the unorthodox Christmas scene.

— cynthia billhartz gregorian, kansascity, "Here’s why you shouldn’t put Christmas lights on palm trees," 21 Dec. 2017
There was almost a double entendre, like an S&M meaning that could be read into all of the lyrics.

— brittany vincent, Billboard, "Hercules & Love Affair's Andy Butler Talks New Album, Spirituality & Queer Allyship," 1 Sep. 2017
There was almost a double entendre, like an S

— brittany vincent, Billboard, "Hercules & Love Affair's Andy Butler Talks New Album, Spirituality & Queer Allyship," 1 Sep. 2017
The team nickname rosters were released this week, and baseball fans have entertained themselves trying to decipher secret meanings and double entendres.

— booger gay, WSJ, "For Baseball, Call Me Booger," 10 Aug. 2017

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.

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.