Word
lewd
US/ˈɫud/
UK/lˈuːd/
Definition
adj. describing something that is rude or sexual in a way that makes people feel uncomfortable. It is often used for jokes, comments, or behavior that is not appropriate for a public place.
adj. referring to sexual matters in a crude, offensive, or lustful manner. Often used to describe behavior or speech that violates social norms of decency.
Examples
“The man was arrested for making lewd comments to people on the street.”
“The manager warned the staff that lewd jokes would not be tolerated in the workplace and could lead to dismissal.”
“The film was criticized not for its artistic merit, but for a series of lewd scenes that many felt were included solely to provoke a scandalized reaction from the public.”
Examples
simple
“The man was arrested for making lewd comments to people on the street.”
contextual
“The manager warned the staff that lewd jokes would not be tolerated in the workplace and could lead to dismissal.”
complex
“The film was criticized not for its artistic merit, but for a series of lewd scenes that many felt were included solely to provoke a scandalized reaction from the public.”
Usage
Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.
Real-World Examples
“In 2015, Kyrgios was given a suspended 28-day ban for making lewd remarks about Stan Wawrinka's girlfriend during a match in Montreal.” Etymology
From Middle English lewed, lewd, leued (“unlearned, lay, lascivious”), from Old English lǣwede (“unlearned, ignorant, lay”), of uncertain origin. Formally similar to a derivative of the past participle of Old English lǣwan (“to reveal, betray”) in the sense of "exposed as being unlearned" or "easily betrayed, clueless", from Proto-West Germanic lāwijan, from Proto-Germanic lēwijaną (“to betray”), from lēwą (“an opportunity, cause”), from Proto-Indo-European lēw- (“to leave”). If so, then cognate with Old High German gilāen, firlāen (“to betray”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌴𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽 (galēwjan, “to give over, betray”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐍅 (lēw, “an opportunity, cause”). Or, according to the OED, probably from Vulgar Latin *laigo-, from Late Latin lāicus (“of the people”), from Ancient Greek λαϊκός (laïkós).
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/lewd