Bollocks
noun / exclamation /ˈbɒl.əks/ — Testicles; nonsense; an exclamation of disbelief
Definition
Literally: testicles (Old English). In use: an exclamation of disbelief or dismissal, or a noun meaning 'nonsense'. 'That's bollocks' means that's completely untrue or ridiculous. The word has been in the English language for over a thousand years.
Beyond the definition
Bollocks has the dignity of age — one of the oldest taboo words in English, a thousand-year-old Anglo-Saxon word still doing exactly what it was always doing. Its bluntness is its excellence.
Origin & history
Old English: beallucas (testicles). One of the oldest taboo words in English, documented in the language since at least the 10th century. The metaphorical sense (nonsense) developed later.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Bollocks. That's not what happened and everyone knows it.
The Sex Pistols' album 'Never Mind the Bollocks' caused a legal case about the word in 1977.
A thousand years of bollocks. The word is more durable than most institutions.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Bollocks” when the meaning fits your context: Literally: testicles (Old English). In use: an exclamation of disbelief or dismissal, or a noun meaning 'nonsense'. 'That's bollocks' means that's completely untrue or ridiculous. The word has been in the English language for over a thousand years.
Synonyms
nonsense, rubbish, baloney
Related words
Bollocks vs rubbish
Bollocks is a vulgar British expression for nonsense. Rubbish is the standard, non-offensive term for something of poor quality or untrue.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Debating Opposing Views
Two adults argue at a crossroads, pointing towards paths of light and shadow.
The debate between the two figures represents the clash of perspectives, where one might dismiss the other's view as nonsensical. 'Bollocks' acts as a dismissal of such opposing ideas when they appear ridiculous or completely untrue in context.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Bollocks" mean?
Bollocks is noun / exclamation meaning: Testicles; nonsense; an exclamation of disbelief. Literally: testicles (Old English). In use: an exclamation of disbelief or dismissal, or a noun meaning 'nonsense'. 'That's bollocks' means that's completely untrue or ridiculous. The word has been in the English language for over a thousand years.
Where does the word "Bollocks" come from?
Old English: beallucas (testicles). One of the oldest taboo words in English, documented in the language since at least the 10th century. The metaphorical sense (nonsense) developed later.