four-letter word

noun

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Definition of four-letter word

: any of a group of vulgar or obscene words typically made up of four letters; broadly : a taboo word or topic

tax is a four-letter word to him

See four-letter word defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of four-letter word from the Web

Buy Photo The famed pop artist Robert Indiana left behind a legacy with a single four-letter word.

— patricia madej, Philly.com, "5 other places you'll find Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture," 22 May 2018
The way some fans and media members openly supported the Bulls losing grew embarrassing for many of us in the city, at least the faction that considers tank a four-letter word.

— david haugh, chicagotribune.com, "Bulls season of insufferable losing finally over so John Paxson's focus can return to winning," 12 Apr. 2018
Learn Proactively: Debt collection, debt management, debt relief, debt settlement - debt is a four-letter word that’s the subject of some complex laws.

— Cincinnati.com, "A penny earned today may save you from debt tomorrow," 9 Apr. 2018
Ritualistic pronouncements of deliciousness abound, often punctuated with a certain four-letter word, and the occasional non-culinary star — Aziz Ansari, Jimmy Kimmel — drops by to both lend and borrow celebrity wattage.

— mike hale, New York Times, "Review: David Chang in the Comfort Food Zone on Netflix," 23 Feb. 2018
Taxes and transit might as well be four-letter words, especially in the suburbs.

— jason williams, Cincinnati.com, "PX: Amid myriad problems, streetcar official receives $22,000 raise, promotion," 16 Feb. 2018
Flexibility can be a four-letter word in coaching ranks.

— everett cook, San Francisco Chronicle, "Now used far beyond Stanford, virtual reality keeps growing at the Farm," 22 Dec. 2017
Despite attending a highly regimented girls’ school in a full black veil, Ava’s concerns are surprisingly similar to teenage girls anywhere else in the world — boys, makeup and symbols of individuality like red sneakers and four-letter words.

— deborah young, The Hollywood Reporter, "‘Ava’: Film Review | TIFF 2017," 25 Sep. 2017

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