rude
rood
Rude (adjective) means not polite; showing a lack of respect for others. Example: “Talking loudly on the phone in the quiet carriage is rude, you know.”
adjective
1
Not polite; showing a lack of respect for others.
"Talking loudly on the phone in the quiet carriage is rude, you know."
"It was rude of him to interrupt the speaker."
"She apologized for being rude to the waiter."
2
Roughly made or lacking sophistication.
"The farmer slept in a rude hut with a roof of straw."
"They crossed the stream on a rude bridge made from a single fallen log."
"They built a rude shelter out of branches and leaves."
How to use rude
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishImpolite and disrespectful — or, in an older sense, crudely or simply made.
Common mistake
"A rude awakening" doesn't mean someone was impolite — it means an unpleasant, sudden realization of the truth.
Common pairings
rude behavior
rude awakening
a rude shock
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Word forms
- Comparative
- ruder
- Superlative
- rudest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Talking loudly on the phone in the quiet carriage is _____, you know.
Etymology
From Old French rude, going back to Latin rudis, "rough, untrained, raw."
Synonyms
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insolent
discourteous
disrespectful
ill-mannered
coarse
rough
bounderish
uncouth
impolite
blue
pornographic
crude
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for rude
See all rhymes for rude →Frequently asked questions
What does “rude” mean?
The word “rude” means not polite; showing a lack of respect for others. In plain terms, impolite and disrespectful — or, in an older sense, crudely or simply made.
How do you pronounce “rude”?
“Rude” is pronounced rood (/ɹud/ in IPA).
How do you use “rude” in a sentence?
Here is “rude” used in a sentence: “It was rude of him to interrupt the speaker.”
What part of speech is “rude”?
“Rude” is an adjective.
Where does the word “rude” come from?
The word “rude” comes from Latin. From Old French rude, going back to Latin rudis, "rough, untrained, raw.".
Is “rude” a common word?
“Rude” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “rude” have?
“Rude” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not polite; showing a lack of respect for others.
What is the difference between rude and impolite?
Both describe a lack of good manners, but rude is stronger and more direct, often suggesting a deliberate lack of respect. Impolite is milder and usually points to a smaller lapse in courtesy rather than open disrespect.
What is the difference between rude and crude?
Rude mainly means not polite or showing disrespect toward others. Crude leans more toward being unrefined or vulgar, though rude can also share the sense of something roughly made or lacking sophistication.
Can rude describe an object rather than a person's behaviour?
Yes. In a more formal or literary sense, rude means roughly made or lacking refinement, as in a rude shelter or a rude tool. This meaning is separate from the everyday sense of bad manners.
What are common phrases that use rude?
Frequent collocations include a rude awakening, a rude gesture, a rude remark, and rude behaviour. In these phrases rude usually carries the sense of something jarring, disrespectful, or unwelcome.
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