Expletive
noun /ˈɛk.splɪ.tɪv/ — A strong exclamation used as a swear word.
Definition
An oath or exclamation, especially one that is obscene or profane — particularly used as an emotional vent or emphasis. Also in grammar, a word that serves a syntactic function without adding meaning.
Beyond the definition
An expletive is language at its most emotional and least meaning-carrying — pure discharge, the verbal equivalent of slamming your fist on the table. It says 'I feel strongly' more than it says anything else.
Origin & history
From Latin 'expletivus' (serving to fill up); from 'explere' (to fill up). Originally grammatical — a word that fills space. The sense of 'swear word' developed because exclamations fill emotional space.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The transcript read '[expletive deleted]' — a term that became a historical curiosity from the Nixon tapes.
Expletives function as emotional italics: they say 'this matters' without adding content to what matters.
She banned expletives from her classroom not from prudishness but from the sense that precision served better than force.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Expletive” when the meaning fits your context: An oath or exclamation, especially one that is obscene or profane — particularly used as an emotional vent or emphasis. Also in grammar, a word that serves a syntactic function without adding meaning.
Synonyms
swear word, oath, profanity, curse word
Antonyms
civil language, polite expression
Related words
Expletive vs interjection
An expletive is a word used as an exclamation, often to express profanity or strong emotion. An interjection is the grammatical category for words that convey emotion, which can be neutral or mild.
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
Expressive Verbal Conflict
Two adults have a heated, visibly hostile argument across a table with sharp gestures.
The raw, aggressive nature of the interaction illustrates the function of an expletive as a vent for intense emotion or as a mechanism for emphasis, where the sound itself serves as a release of internal pressure.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Expletive" mean?
Expletive is noun meaning: A strong exclamation used as a swear word.. An oath or exclamation, especially one that is obscene or profane — particularly used as an emotional vent or emphasis. Also in grammar, a word that serves a syntactic function without adding meaning.
Where does the word "Expletive" come from?
From Latin 'expletivus' (serving to fill up); from 'explere' (to fill up). Originally grammatical — a word that fills space. The sense of 'swear word' developed because exclamations fill emotional space.