Standard Lemma guide

ribaldry

noun · 3 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈɹɪb.əl.dɹi/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R AY1 B AA0 L D R IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Joking or humorous language or behaviour used in a vulgar or lewd fashion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

behavior or language bordering on indelicacy

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gaminess, raciness, spiciness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: indelicacy

3

noun

Meaning 3

ribald humor

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wit, humor, humour, witticism, wittiness

History

Etymology

From Middle English ribaldrie, from Old French ribaulderie, ribauderie, equivalent to ribald + -ry.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: сквернословие (skvernoslovie) — humorous language or behaviour
  • Bulgarian: цинизъм (cinizǎm) — humorous language or behaviour
  • Chinese Mandarin: 下流語言 /下流语言 (xiàliú yǔyán) — humorous language or behaviour
  • Chinese Mandarin: 下流行為 /下流行为 (xiàliú xíngwéi) — humorous language or behaviour
  • Dutch: schunnigheid — humorous language or behaviour
  • Finnish: pelleily — humorous language or behaviour
  • French: grivoiserie — humorous language or behaviour
  • French: paillardise — humorous language or behaviour
  • French: polissonnerie — humorous language or behaviour
  • French: ribauderie — humorous language or behaviour
  • German: Possenspiel — humorous language or behaviour
  • German: Zote — humorous language or behaviour
  • German: Kramanzen — humorous language or behaviour
  • German: Gaukelwerk — humorous language or behaviour
  • German: Anzüglichkeit — humorous language or behaviour
  • Ancient Greek: εὐτραπελία (eutrapelía) — humorous language or behaviour
  • Italian: oscenità — humorous language or behaviour
  • Italian: ribalderia — humorous language or behaviour
  • Polish: sprośność — humorous language or behaviour
  • Russian: понты́ (pontý) — humorous language or behaviour
  • Spanish: procacidad — humorous language or behaviour
  • Spanish: procacidades — humorous language or behaviour