profanity
Sign in to savethumb|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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Article
32 sectionsContents
- 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
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 a sin. Profanity includes slurs, but most profanities are not slurs, and there are many insults that do not use swear words.
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".