General
john
What does john mean?
The generic term for a man paying a sex worker. Used by workers, police and journalists alike. Police 'john stings' arrest the buyers rather than the sellers; 'date' and 'trick' are softer in-trade equivalents for the same person.
"She said the john got weird the second they got in the room, so she bailed."
Origin
From the generic alias customers used to stay anonymous — 'John' being the most common American given name, the original Doe. Documented from the early 20th century.
Frequently asked questions
What does john mean in slang?
A john is a prostitute's client — the customer paying for sex.
How do you use john in a sentence?
"The police were targeting the johns rather than the workers."
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
