innuendo

noun

in·​nu·​en·​do ˌin-yə-ˈwen-(ˌ)dō 

-yü-ˈen-

plural innuendos or innuendoes

1

a

: an oblique allusion : hint, insinuation

especially : a veiled or equivocal reflection on character or reputation

b

: the use of such allusions

resorting to innuendo

2

: a parenthetical explanation introduced into the text of a legal document

Did you know?

The word innuere in classical Latin meant “to nod, beckon, or make a sign to” a person, and in medieval Latin more generally “to hint” or “to insinuate.” One form of the gerund of this verb was innuendo, which meant “by hinting.” In medieval legal documents innuendo introduced inserted remarks, meaning “to wit” or “that is to say,” and the word was adopted with the same function into English legal usage. By the late 17th century innuendo was used to refer to the insertion itself and more broadly to any indirect suggestion. Later, the notion of the derogatory possibilities of such remarks came to predominate.

Synonyms of innuendo

• insinuation
• imputation
• suggestion

Examples of innuendo in a Sentence

His reputation has been damaged by innuendos about his drinking and gambling.

His reputation has been damaged by innuendo.

The movie relies on sexual innuendo for its humor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Larkin and Yzerman each have their share of blame for that situation, with few hard facts to go off beyond snapshots and innuendo. — Max Bultman, New York Times, 17 July 2026

All the trappings of rage—the non-descriptive mentions of drug intake, the unspecified sadness, the shock-rock innuendos—are unshakeable. — Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026

Nothing is ever explicit, but the innuendo is there from the beginning. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026

Both these films have great characters who genuinely care about one another, and both ditch the quippy, sarcastic humor that plague so many modern movies in favor of earnestness (and a dash of innuendo). — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, by nodding, from innuere to nod to, make a sign to, from in- + nuere to nod; akin to Latin nutare to nod — more at numen

First Known Use

1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for innuendo

• crescendo
• arguendo
• endo
• tendo

Kids Definition

innuendo

noun

in·​nu·​en·​do ˌin-yə-ˈwen-dō 

plural innuendos or innuendoes

: a slight suggestion or hint

especially : a suggestion that hurts someone's reputation

Legal Definition

innuendo

noun

in·​nu·​en·​do ˌi-nyü-ˈwen-dō 

: a parenthetical explanation of the text of a legal document

especially : an explanation in a complaint for defamation of the defamatory meaning of a statement by the defendant which is not defamatory on its face compare inducement