expletive

1 of 2

noun

ex·​ple·​tive ˈek-splə-tiv 

1

a

: a syllable, word, or phrase inserted to fill a vacancy (as in a sentence or a metrical line) without adding to the sense

especially : a word (such as it in "make it clear which you prefer") that occupies the position of the subject or object of a verb in normal English word order and anticipates a subsequent word or phrase that supplies the needed meaningful content

b

: an exclamatory word or phrase

especially : one that is obscene or profane

2

: one that serves to fill out or as a filling

expletive

2 of 2

adjective

1

: serving to fill up

expletive phrases

2

: marked by the use of expletives

Synonyms

Noun

• curse
• cuss
• cussword
• dirty word
• four-letter word
• obscenity
• profanity
• swear
• swearword
• vulgarism

Examples of expletive in a Sentence

Noun

Angry expletives filled the air.

Expletives were deleted from the transcript of their conversation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The lawyers scrambled, the expletives flew, and Paramount Global’s stock price (PARA) sunk to its lowest point in five years. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 20 June 2024

The English version of the ad ends with the narrator using an expletive that is bleeped out but unmistakable. —Michael Scherer, Washington Post, 20 June 2024

According to the Georgetown Free Speech Project tracker, a 2017 commencement at Sonoma State University included expletives and criticisms of former President Donald Trump, for which the university president later publicly apologized. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024

According to a criminal complaint, police were called to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School on a complaint that a parent who was talking to the principal and a teacher began shouting and yelling expletives at the teacher outside the school. —Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English explatyvis (plural) "word serving an expletive function," borrowed from Late Latin explētīva (feminine) or explētīvum (neuter), noun derivatives of explētīvus "(of words, especially conjunctions) filling out a clause without changing the essential meaning" — more at expletive entry 2

Adjective

Middle English expletyf "(of a conjunction) filling out the meaning of a following clause," borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French expletif "serving to fill out a sentence, redundant," borrowed from Late Latin explētīvus "(of words, especially conjunctions) filling out a clause without changing the essential meaning," from Latin explētus, past participle of explēre "to fill up, satisfy, make good" (from ex- ex- entry 1 + plēre "to fill") + -īvus -ive — more at full entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

expletive

noun

ex·​ple·​tive

ˈek-splət-iv

: an exclamatory word or phrase

especially : swearword