expletive

Everyday

1. An expletive is a swear word or rude exclamation, said when angry, hurt or surprised. tree →
2. (grammar) An expletive is a word like «it» or «there» that fills a place in a sentence without meaning, as in «There is a cat» or «It is raining». tree →

In the lessons

In news and formal writing, «expletive deleted» shows a swear word was removed. Pupils meet it in stories and when talking about polite language. In grammar lessons it is a dummy word. Phrases: «expletive deleted», «a string of expletives».

Examples

• He dropped the hammer on his toe and let out an expletive. tree →
• The newspaper replaced the expletive with stars. tree →
• Please don't use expletives in class. tree →
• A string of expletives came from the angry driver. tree →
• In «It is snowing», «it» is an expletive. tree →
• The coach shouted an expletive when the ball missed. tree →

Note

Formal word for «swear word». Countable. Swear words are rude; use polite words in school. In grammar, the expletive «it» or «there» has no real meaning of its own.