innuendo

noun

in·nu·en·do | \ ˌin-yə-ˈwen-(ˌ)dō,

-yü-ˈen-\

plural innuendos or innuendoes

Definition of innuendo

1a : 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

Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about innuendo

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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.

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

There was a lot of innuendo, disingenuousness and outright lying about me, much of it steeped in barely concealed racial language. — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "Michelle Obama on Facing Criticism, Life After the White House, and Advice for Meghan Markle," 3 Dec. 2018 Is there any meat on the bone to justify the innuendo that Painter and Tanden seemed to be aiming at Kennedy and his son? — Salvador Rizzo, chicagotribune.com, "There is an unfounded conspiracy theory about the Supreme Court and Trump Tower Chicago," 14 July 2018 In fact, both the substance and the style of the tweets mimicked the kind of unremarkable banter and unfounded innuendo one often sees—and then forgets—on Twitter. — Michael Mccann, SI.com, "Could Bryan Colangelo Still Face Legal Consequences After Parting Ways With 76ers?," 7 June 2018 Published on both Instagram and Weibo, the post was interpreted by some commenters as demeaning to Chinese people, as well as inappropriately innuendo-laden. — Vogue, "Dolce & Gabbana Cancels Its Shanghai Great Show Amid Controversy," 21 Nov. 2018 The newer chain also capitalizes on innuendo and scantily clad servers but has (until very recently) enjoyed steady growth. — Vox, "Hooters is closing restaurants. Is its offensive uniform to blame?," 4 Oct. 2018 So how many votes did Mr. Trump lose during the campaign because of a torrent of partisan and media innuendo about his alleged Putin ties? — Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, "The Scapegoating of Facebook," 20 Nov. 2018 Bonus points are available to anyone who can pull this off exclusively through the use of oblique innuendo, without naming names. — Alex Abad-santos, Vox, "Ariana Grande’s greatest asset isn’t her amazing voice. It’s her resilience.," 11 Nov. 2018 And yet, all the naming innuendos are comically thirsty right now. — Rachel Nussbaum, Glamour, "I Wore Sex-Themed Makeup for a Week and Felt Comically Thirsty," 8 Nov. 2018

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

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More Definitions for innuendo

innuendo

noun

English Language Learners Definition of innuendo

: a statement which indirectly suggests that someone has done something immoral, improper, etc.

See the full definition for innuendo in the English Language Learners Dictionary

innuendo

noun

in·nu·en·do | \ ˌi-nyü-ˈwen-dō

Legal Definition of innuendo

: 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