Lewd
adjective /ljuːd/ — Crude and offensive in a sexual way; sexually explicit
Definition
Crude and offensive in a sexual way — not playfully bawdy but more directly sexual and typically intended to shock or offend. Originally 'lewd' simply meant uneducated or belonging to the laity — the sexual meaning came later.
Beyond the definition
Lewd is bawdy's less charming cousin — where bawdy is cheerful and playful, lewd is cruder and more aggressive. The word's drift from 'unlearned' to 'sexually offensive' reveals medieval assumptions about education and morality.
Origin & history
Old English: lǣwede (unlearned, belonging to the laity, secular). The meaning progression: layman → uneducated → vulgar → sexually crude. An entire social history in one word's journey.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The word 'lewd' originally just meant 'not a priest' — secular, ordinary. The rest is later.
She found the joke lewd rather than funny — it crossed a line that bawdy stays behind.
The distinction between bawdy and lewd is largely about intention and warmth.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Lewd” when the meaning fits your context: Crude and offensive in a sexual way — not playfully bawdy but more directly sexual and typically intended to shock or offend. Originally 'lewd' simply meant uneducated or belonging to the laity — the sexual meaning came later.
Synonyms
obscene, crude, salacious
Antonyms
modest, decent, clean
Related words
Lewd vs salacious
Lewd describes overt, crude sexual behavior. Salacious describes an illicit, prurient interest in sexual matters.
Compare this word
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
Hostility in Expression
Two adults have a heated disagreement with one using pointed, angry gestures.
The anger and hostility in the argument mirror the shocking intent of lewd behavior. While bawdy behavior is cheerful, lewdness is often intended to offend or disturb the audience, much like the aggressive hostility shown in this heated, sharp disagreement.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Lewd" mean?
Lewd is adjective meaning: Crude and offensive in a sexual way; sexually explicit. Crude and offensive in a sexual way — not playfully bawdy but more directly sexual and typically intended to shock or offend. Originally 'lewd' simply meant uneducated or belonging to the laity — the sexual meaning came later.
Where does the word "Lewd" come from?
Old English: lǣwede (unlearned, belonging to the laity, secular). The meaning progression: layman → uneducated → vulgar → sexually crude. An entire social history in one word's journey.