four-letter

adjective

four-let·​ter ˈfȯr-ˈle-tər How to pronounce four-letter (audio)
: of, relating to, or being four-letter words

Examples of four-letter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There is also the cost of the four-letter word most closely associated with the Glazers’ ownership: debt. Adam Crafton, New York Times, 12 May 2025 Becoming complacent leads to disengagement—a deadly four-letter word in the workplace. Richard Polak, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 And Democrats’ use of four-letter vernacular says a lot about the party. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2025 There are plenty of four-letter words that apply to what’s happened when the Lakers have tried to put points on the board. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for four-letter

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of four-letter was in 1897

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Cite this Entry

“Four-letter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/four-letter. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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