Word
arsehole
Phoneticsar·se·hole
US/ˈɑɹsˌhoʊɫ/
UK/ˈɑːsɪhˌəʊl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a very rude and offensive word for a person's bottom. It is also used to describe someone who is being very annoying or rude.
n. a highly offensive term for the human anus. When applied to a person, it describes someone perceived as rude, arrogant, or unpleasant.
Examples
“He is such an arsehole that no one wants to work with him.”
“The manager was a total arsehole, constantly yelling at the staff for minor mistakes.”
“While the protagonist is technically a criminal, his charm and self-awareness prevent him from being a total arsehole in the eyes of the audience.”
Examples
simple
“He is such an arsehole that no one wants to work with him.”
contextual
“The manager was a total arsehole, constantly yelling at the staff for minor mistakes.”
complex
“While the protagonist is technically a criminal, his charm and self-awareness prevent him from being a total arsehole in the eyes of the audience.”
Real-World Examples
“It’s the antidote (and all the ammunition) we need to those arseholes who forget that Britain was great before they were born – we can see right through them.” “Nihilism is famously the philosophy that “nothing matters” – it is associated with anarchy, hedonism and those arseholes in The Big Lebowski.” Etymology
From Middle English arce-hoole, equivalent to arse + hole. Compare Old English ears-þyrel (“anus”, literally “arse-hole”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/arsehole