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 of expletive

Noun

• curse
• swear
• language
• profanity
• epithet
• vulgarism
• cuss

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

Davidson’s expletives have dominated what should have been a terrific night for Studiocanal’s I Swear, which pulled a surprise in the shape of Robert Aramayo winning best actor over the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2026

Alan Cumming briefly paused Sunday's BAFTA Film Awards on two separate occasions to address the expletives and racial slur that Tourette's syndrome advocate John Davidson yelled during the telecast, according to reports. —Pamela Avila, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026

After a wild few days with expletives and a brief rule change, tensions simmered and teams and players more or less moved on. —Sallee Ann Harrison, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026

Cernak grabbed Tkachuk, the two shared a few expletives, and a referee blew his whistle. —Chris Kudialis, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2026

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