Word
diss
US/ˈdɪs/
UK/dˈɪs/
Countable noun
Definition
n. an insult or a comment that shows no respect. It is a short way of saying 'disrespect' and is common in music and street culture.
n. An expression of disrespect or a verbal insult. Frequently used in hip-hop culture and social-media conflicts.
Examples
“He took the comment as a major diss.”
“The rapper released a new track that was clearly a diss aimed at his former producer.”
“What began as a subtle diss in a social media post quickly escalated into a public feud that dominated the entertainment headlines for weeks.”
Examples
simple
“He took the comment as a major diss.”
contextual
“The rapper released a new track that was clearly a diss aimed at his former producer.”
complex
“What began as a subtle diss in a social media post quickly escalated into a public feud that dominated the entertainment headlines for weeks.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'a diss track' or 'a diss at someone'.
Real-World Examples
“It deals with a bad experience she had in the music industry, describing it as "like my first ever diss track".” Etymology
Originated in Jamaican English or African American Vernacular English, probably originally a clipping of disrespect or disparage, both from the prefix dis-, ultimately from Latin dis-.
Clipping of dissertation.
From Arabic دِيس (dīs).
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 C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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