innuendo

CEFRC2

/ˌɪnjuˈɛndəʊ/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    An indirect remark that suggests something unpleasant or sexual.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A remark that is suggestive of something sexual without stating it explicitly.

Examples

  • And then she let slip a not-so-subtle innuendo about my drinking habits.

  • It's not easy to work under the shadow of innuendo.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A rhetorical device with an omitted but obvious conclusion, made to increase the force of an argument.

  2. A derogatory hint or reference to, or (often sexual) insinuation about, a person or thing.

  3. Part of a pleading in cases of libel and slander, pointing out what and who was meant by the libellous matter or description.

More examples

In context

  • She made a devious innuendo about her opponent, who was embarrassed.

  • From the start then, the prosecutor David Tudor-Price relied on innuendo to carry his case. […] his whole presentation was based on shoring-up the stereotypes.

  • We were both quite good friends and apart from the playful innuendos about having an affair together we never really did anything.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Her comment contained an blank that suggested he was not being honest about the project.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From the Latin innuendō (“by nodding”), ablative singular form of innuendum (“a nodding”), gerund of innuō (“to give a nod”).