Standard Lemma guide

prudishness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The condition of being prudish; prudery

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

excessive or affected modesty

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: primness, prudery, Grundyism

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: modesty, modestness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English prudish Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English prudishness From prudish + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: фалшива скромност (falšiva skromnost) — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Danish: sippethed — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Danish: snerperi — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Dutch: preutsheid — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Finnish: sievistelevyys — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Finnish: kainostelevuus — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Finnish: tekosiveys — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • French: pudibonderie — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • German: Prüderie — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Polish: pruderia — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Polish: pruderyjność — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Spanish: pudor — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Spanish: mojigatez — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Spanish: mojigatería — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Spanish: gazmoñería — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Spanish: pudibundez — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Spanish: santurronería — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Spanish: pacatería — condition of being prudish; prudery
  • Spanish: cartuchismo — condition of being prudish; prudery