Piss
noun / verb /pɪs/ — Urine; to urinate; an expletive expressing contempt
Definition
Urine or the act of urinating. Also used in constructions expressing contempt ('piss off'), bad luck ('take the piss'), or extreme intoxication ('pissed'). Old French in origin with a probably imitative etymology — the sound of the act.
Beyond the definition
Piss is the word that demonstrates how bodily function becomes figurative — 'taking the piss' means something entirely disconnected from its anatomical origin. Language has a talent for laundering its origins.
Origin & history
Old French: pissier (to urinate). Probably imitative of the sound — onomatopoeic origins. One of the more internationally recognisable expletives.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
He was taking the piss — there's no way that story is true.
'Pissed' means drunk in Britain and angry in America. The Atlantic created the difference.
Piss off as an instruction carries perfect clarity regardless of register.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Piss” when the meaning fits your context: Urine or the act of urinating. Also used in constructions expressing contempt ('piss off'), bad luck ('take the piss'), or extreme intoxication ('pissed'). Old French in origin with a probably imitative etymology — the sound of the act.
Synonyms
urine, urinate
Related words
Piss vs urine
Urine is the clinical and formal biological term. Piss is crude, colloquial, and considered vulgar in most social settings.
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
Playful and Ironic Wit
A close-up of an adult’s face as they deliver a clever, dry joke.
The sharp intelligence and playfulness of the wit mirror the various uses of 'piss'. From 'taking the piss' to describe irony, to expressing contempt, the word's versatility mirrors the range of moods conveyed in a sharp, witty remark.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Piss" mean?
Piss is noun / verb meaning: Urine; to urinate; an expletive expressing contempt. Urine or the act of urinating. Also used in constructions expressing contempt ('piss off'), bad luck ('take the piss'), or extreme intoxication ('pissed'). Old French in origin with a probably imitative etymology — the sound of the act.
Where does the word "Piss" come from?
Old French: pissier (to urinate). Probably imitative of the sound — onomatopoeic origins. One of the more internationally recognisable expletives.