Ribald
adjective /ˈrɪb(ə)ld/ — Referring to sexual matters in a humorous, irreverent way.
Definition
Referring to sexual matters in a humorous or amusingly rude way — coarsely funny, especially about sex; using language or making jokes that go beyond polite convention.
Beyond the definition
Ribald humour is the humour of the tavern, the locker room, the backstage — the laughter that exists in the space between propriety and transgression. Shakespeare's plays are full of ribald wordplay that most modern audiences miss entirely.
Origin & history
From Old French ribaud (promiscuous person), from riber (to be wanton). Related to the medieval figure of the ribald — the low-life, the lewd trickster — who could say what others could not.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The ribald humour of Chaucer's Miller's Tale sits alongside genuine pathos in the same work.
She had a ribald sense of humour that surprised people who knew only her professional presentation.
The after-dinner speech grew progressively more ribald as the evening advanced.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Ribald” when the meaning fits your context: Referring to sexual matters in a humorous or amusingly rude way — coarsely funny, especially about sex; using language or making jokes that go beyond polite convention.
Synonyms
bawdy, coarse, crude, raunchy
Antonyms
refined, decorous, chaste
Related words
- scurrilous
- prurient
- licentiousness
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
Adult Delivering Clever Joke
A close-up of an adult’s face reveals a subtle, knowing smile as they deliver a clever, perhaps boundary-pushing joke.
The sharp intelligence and playfulness in the adult's eyes suggest a ribald sense of humor. The joke being delivered likely goes beyond polite convention, using a dry, clever tone to amuse in a way that is intentionally rude or boundary-crossing.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Ribald" mean?
Ribald is adjective meaning: Referring to sexual matters in a humorous, irreverent way.. Referring to sexual matters in a humorous or amusingly rude way — coarsely funny, especially about sex; using language or making jokes that go beyond polite convention.
Where does the word "Ribald" come from?
From Old French ribaud (promiscuous person), from riber (to be wanton). Related to the medieval figure of the ribald — the low-life, the lewd trickster — who could say what others could not.