Search results
The word bastard is still used relatively neutrally in historical references and historical fiction, but is usually considered offensive when used in present-day contexts to describe a child born to parents not married to each other. 2. : something that is spurious (see spurious sense 3a), irregular, inferior, or of questionable origin.
Bastard used to be a not nice thing you called a child whose parents weren't married. But now it's a more general insult hurled toward a jerk or bad person. Bastard can also simply mean "fraudulent." This is a great example of how words change in meaning over time.
1. "Bastard" is a bad word because it is almost always used as an insult. It is almost always used to disparage somebody. There are some contexts where this word (and other insults) are accepted, for example if a young man says about his friend that the friend is "a cool bastard".
a vicious, despicable, or thoroughly disliked person. Some bastard slashed the tires on my car. b. informal, jocular. a person, esp. a man. The poor bastard broke his leg. 3. something irregular, inferior, spurious, or unusual. 4. See bastard culverin.
noun. a person born of unmarried parents; an illegitimate child. Slang. a vicious, despicable, or thoroughly disliked person: Some bastard slashed the tires on my car. a person, especially a man: The poor bastard broke his leg. something irregular, inferior, spurious, or unusual. bastard culverin.
bastard. noun. /ˈbɑːstəd/, /ˈbæstəd/ /ˈbæstərd/ (offensive, slang) an offensive word for somebody, especially a man, who you think has been rude, unpleasant or cruel. He's a real bastard. You bastard! You've made her cry. He's a complete bastard. Your boss is a bit of a bastard, isn't he? Questions about grammar and vocabulary?
bastard. noun [ C ] uk / ˈbɑː.stəd / us / ˈbæs.tɚd / bastard noun [C] (UNPLEASANT) offensive. an unpleasant person: He was a bastard to his wife. You lied to me, you bastard! humorous You won again? You lucky bastard! (= I don't think you deserve it) This crossword's a bastard (= very difficult). bastard noun [C] (CHILD) old use.
