Word
douche
US/ˈduʃ/
UK/dˈuːʃ/
Definitions
01an unpleasant person
n. a rude, annoying, or arrogant person who thinks they are better than others.
n. a pejorative term for an objectionable, arrogant, or socially inept individual; functions as a shortened form of 'douchebag'.
“I can't believe he said that to her; he is such a douche.”
“The protagonist in the film is portrayed as a total douche who eventually learns humility after losing his high-paying job.”
Slang · Vulgar · Informal
Teaching tip
This is a very common modern insult in American English. While it is vulgar, it is often used casually among friends to describe someone being annoying.
02medical device
n. a tool or a stream of water used to wash out a part of the body, especially the vagina.
n. a device or a jet of water used for the irrigation of a body cavity, particularly the vagina.
“The doctor advised her against using a douche because it can cause infections.”
“Medical professionals generally discourage the use of a vaginal douche as it disrupts the natural bacterial balance of the body.”
Technical
Teaching tip
In modern medical contexts, this term is increasingly rare as the practice itself is often discouraged by health experts.
Synonyms
03to wash a body cavity
v. to wash out a part of the body using a stream of water.
v. to perform irrigation of a body cavity, typically the vagina, using a liquid solution.
“She was told not to douche before her medical appointment.”
“The patient was instructed not to douche for forty-eight hours prior to the procedure to ensure accurate test results.”
Technical
Usage
Can be used transitively or intransitively.
Synonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from French douche (“shower”), from Italian doccia (“shower”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/douche