noun
Common
bastard
BAHS-tuhd
Bastard (noun) means (offensive or informal) A thoroughly unpleasant, spiteful, or contemptible person. Example: “He's a real bastard to work for.”
noun
1
(offensive or informal) A thoroughly unpleasant, spiteful, or contemptible person.
"He's a real bastard to work for."
2
(dated) A person born to parents who were not married to each other.
"In earlier centuries, being labelled a bastard could mean losing all rights of inheritance."
3
(informal) Something extremely difficult, awkward, or unpleasant to deal with.
"This flat-pack wardrobe is an absolute bastard to put together."
How to use bastard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA strong insult for an unpleasant person, an old-fashioned term for a child born outside marriage, or (informally) a way to describe something maddeningly difficult.
When to use it
Considered a swear word in most contexts; avoid in formal or professional writing. The "illegitimate birth" sense is now dated and can be seen as offensive.
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Word forms
- Plural
- bastards
- Third person singular
- bastards
- Past tense
- bastarded
- Comparative
- more bastard
- Superlative
- most bastard
Etymology
From Old French bastart, "illegitimate child," probably from a Frankish word for an irregular union combined with the pejorative suffix -art.
Synonyms
View more →
bantling
bastardling
bastid
batchelor's son
by-blow
degenerate
fruit of adultery
haramzada
illegitimate
love child
mamzer
misbegotten
Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “bastard” mean?
The word “bastard” means (offensive or informal) A thoroughly unpleasant, spiteful, or contemptible person. In plain terms, a strong insult for an unpleasant person, an old-fashioned term for a child born outside marriage, or (informally) a way to describe something maddeningly difficult.
How do you pronounce “bastard”?
“Bastard” is pronounced BAHS-tuhd (/ˈbæs.tɚd/ in IPA).
How do you use “bastard” in a sentence?
Here is “bastard” used in a sentence: “He's a real bastard to work for.”
What is another word for “bastard”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bastard” include bantling, bastardling, bastid, batchelor's son, by-blow and degenerate.
What is the opposite of “bastard”?
The opposite of “bastard” — its antonyms — is legitimate.
What part of speech is “bastard”?
“Bastard” is a noun.
Where does the word “bastard” come from?
The word “bastard” comes from Old French. From Old French bastart, "illegitimate child," probably from a Frankish word for an irregular union combined with the pejorative suffix -art.
Is “bastard” a common word?
“Bastard” is a fairly common word in modern English.
