Added 9 October 2026
bastard
/ˈbɑːs.təd/ noun
In Latin: spurius, nothus, bastardus Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about bastard at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A person who was born out of wedlock, and hence often considered an illegitimate descendant.
- A mongrel (biological cross between different breeds, groups or varieties).
-
A contemptible, inconsiderate, overly or arrogantly rude or spiteful person.
Some bastard stole my car while I was helping an injured person.
adjective
- Of or like a bastard (illegitimate human descendant).
- Of or like a bastard (bad person).
- Of or like a mongrel, bastardized creature/cross.
interjection
verb
- To bastardize.
Origin
From Middle English bastard, bastarde, from Old English bastard (used as an epithet), from Anglo-Norman bastard, Old French bastart (“illegitimate child”), perhaps via Medieval Latin bastardus, of obscure origin. Likely from Frankish *bāst (“marriage, relationship”) + Old French -ard, -art (pejorative suffix denoting a specific quality or condition).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)