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noun

bugger

BUH-guh
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Bugger (noun) means a mild but crude term for a person, often used affectionately or with irritation, especially in British and Australian English. Example: “The poor little bugger fell asleep before dessert.”

noun
1
A mild but crude term for a person, often used affectionately or with irritation, especially in British and Australian English.
"The poor little bugger fell asleep before dessert."
"That stubborn old bugger refuses to see a doctor."
intj
1
An exclamation of annoyance or frustration.
""Bugger! I left my keys at the office.""
verb
1
To break, damage, or ruin something.
"He buggered the engine trying to fix it himself."

How to use bugger

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA very common, mildly crude British/Australian word — can be an insult, a curse of frustration, or oddly affectionate depending on tone.

When to use it

Considered vulgar/crude in formal contexts, especially in its original sexual sense, but the exclamation and mild-insult uses are common in casual British speech.

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Word forms

Plural
buggers
Third person singular
buggers
Past tense
buggered

Etymology

From Old French "bougre," originally meaning "heretic" (a reference to the Bulgarian-linked Bogomil sect), which later took on its cruder, unrelated sexual sense in English.

Origin: Old French

Synonyms

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sod sodomite sodomist sodomize sodomise

Related words

grass turf sod sodomise sodomist sodomite sodomize greensward

Rhymes for bugger

mugger hugger chugger slugger debugger
See all rhymes for bugger →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bugger” mean?
The word “bugger” means a mild but crude term for a person, often used affectionately or with irritation, especially in British and Australian English. In plain terms, a very common, mildly crude British/Australian word — can be an insult, a curse of frustration, or oddly affectionate depending on tone.
How do you pronounce “bugger”?
“Bugger” is pronounced BUH-guh (/ˈbʌɡəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bugger” in a sentence?
Here is “bugger” used in a sentence: “The poor little bugger fell asleep before dessert.”
What part of speech is “bugger”?
Depending on how it is used, “bugger” can be a noun, an intj and a verb.
Where does the word “bugger” come from?
The word “bugger” comes from Old French.
How many meanings does “bugger” have?
“Bugger” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mild but crude term for a person, often used affectionately or with irritation, especially in British and Australian English.

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