noun

bastard

BAHS-tuhd

noun

(offensive or informal) A thoroughly unpleasant, spiteful, or contemptible person.

"He's a real bastard to work for."

(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."

(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 notes

In 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.

Word Forms

more bastard comparative, bastarded past tense, bastards plural, Bastards plural, bastards singular, most bastard superlative

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Etymology

From Old French bastart, "illegitimate child," probably from a Frankish word for an irregular union combined with the pejorative suffix -art.

Synonyms

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bantling bastardling bastid batchelor's son by-blow degenerate fruit of adultery haramzada illegitimate love child mamzer misbegotten

Antonyms

legitimate

Related Words

baby sharp honest valid deteriorate fake genuine generate

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