profanity

Also known as kakologos, foul language, insult, strong language, swear word, violent word, bad word, dirty word

thumb|Profanity is often depicted in images by grawlixes, which substitute symbols for words. Profanity, also known as swearing, cursing, or cussing, is the usage of notionally offensive words for a variety of purposes, including to demonstrate disrespect or negativity, to relieve pain, to express a strong emotion (such as anger, excitement, or surprise), as a grammatical intensifier or emphasis, or to express informality or conversational intimacy. In many formal or polite social situations, it is considered impolite (a violation of social norms), and in some religious groups it is considered

AI overview

Profanity, also known as swearing or cursing, is the use of words considered offensive that people employ for various reasons—like expressing strong emotions, showing disrespect, relieving pain, or emphasizing a point. It matters because it's generally considered impolite in formal or polite settings and is discouraged in some religious communities, reflecting broader social norms about appropriate language.

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Commons category: Profanity

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~40 min read

Article

32 sections

Contents

Etymology and definitions
History and study
Subjects
Religion
Anatomy and sexuality
Other subjects
Grammar and function
Social perception
Censorship and avoidance
Physiology and neurology
Legality
Australia
Brazil
Canada
India
New Zealand
Pakistan
Philippines
Russia
United Kingdom
In public
In the workplace
United States
Religious views
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
See also
Notes
References
Further reading
External links

Swear words can be discussed or even sometimes used for the same purpose without causing offense or being considered impolite if they are obscured (e.g. "fuck" becomes "f***" or "the f-word") or substituted with a minced oath like "flip".