noun
cuckold
KUH-kohld
Cuckold (noun) means a man whose wife or partner has been unfaithful to him. Example: “The play mocks the jealous cuckold as a comic figure.”
noun
1
A man whose wife or partner has been unfaithful to him.
"The play mocks the jealous cuckold as a comic figure."
verb
1
To make someone a cuckold by sleeping with their spouse or partner.
""Gave her anything she wanted - her own car, her own bank account, a free leg to amuse herself as she pleased. Of course she hated him for it. Cuckolded him, too, naturally.""
— Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish? (1950)
"Hey, I would never cuckold one of my friends. That’s way not cool."
— Jeph Jacques, Questionable Content 1319: The Flimsiest of Logic (2008)
"He was humiliated to learn he'd been cuckolded by his best friend."
How to use cuckold
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned, often mocking word for a man betrayed by an unfaithful partner.
Common mistake
It's a dated, somewhat comic or insulting term rather than neutral vocabulary — use with care.
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Word forms
- Plural
- cuckolds
- Third person singular
- cuckolds
- Past tense
- cuckolded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The play mocks the jealous _____ as a comic figure.
Etymology
From Old French cucuault, built from cucu ("cuckoo") plus a suffix — a reference to cuckoo birds laying eggs in other birds' nests.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “cuckold” mean?
The word “cuckold” means a man whose wife or partner has been unfaithful to him. In plain terms, an old-fashioned, often mocking word for a man betrayed by an unfaithful partner.
How do you pronounce “cuckold”?
“Cuckold” is pronounced KUH-kohld (/ˈkʌ.koʊld/ in IPA).
How do you use “cuckold” in a sentence?
Here is “cuckold” used in a sentence: “The play mocks the jealous cuckold as a comic figure.”
What is another word for “cuckold”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cuckold” include Acteon, cornuto, cuck, cuckhold, hoddy-peak and skimmington.
What part of speech is “cuckold”?
Depending on how it is used, “cuckold” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cuckold” come from?
The word “cuckold” comes from Old French. From Old French cucuault, built from cucu ("cuckoo") plus a suffix — a reference to cuckoo birds laying eggs in other birds' nests.
How many meanings does “cuckold” have?
“Cuckold” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a man whose wife or partner has been unfaithful to him.
