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Kevin -
February 9, 2024 -
Common Questions
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According to the Collins English Dictionary, a slut is a promiscuous woman or someone who has many casual sexual partners. It’s considered a highly offensive word and is traditionally used when referring to a woman; however, it can also be used as an insult toward men.
The word slut was once a way to refer to a prostitute, but pop culture has turned this word into a word that’s used more casually (and often).
We’re going to talk about the origins of slut, the history behind the word, and how pop culture has changed this word throughout history.
What Is the Definition of Slut?
This English language term is a way to describe an immoral woman that has multiple casual sexual or romantic partners.
There was a period when this word was only used as a sexual slur used towards women and was rarely used towards men. Even now, there is (usually) clarification in the sentence when used regarding men: for example, “male slut” or “man whore.”
This word originally meant “a dirty, slovenly woman.” Slut is also used as a way to explain disapproval (AKA, slut-shaming). The adjective forms of slut — slutty and sluttish — and the adverb form sluttishly all carry similar connotations.
While the English dictionary used slut as an offensive or sexist term, slut meant something completely different in Ireland and England. Sluts were used to refer to rags that were dipped in lard and used in place of candles. In the 19th-century, slut was used as a way to refer to a female dog.
While slut was traditionally a way to refer to candles (or a female dog) in Ireland and England, it has now picked up the same meaning as the English language, although it can still also refer to a female dog.
What Is the Etymology of Slut?
Slut began to pick up popularity around the 15th century in the late middle English language as a way to describe a dirty, immoral, untidy woman or prostitute.
While slut was often used in Middle English, Norway developed its own take on the word.
Around the same era, Norwegian people started using the word slut, pronouncing it ‘sleet,’ also known as an impure liquid or liquor.
Slut ultimately has an unknown origin; however, it was first seen being used in 1402 in Middle English slutte as a way to describe an untidy, dirty woman. Slattern or sloven were synonyms of this word at the time.
It is unknown if it was used as a sexual slur at the beginning of this word, but it wasn’t long after its discovery that the word took on it’s current meaning.
Slut in Pop Culture Today
Slut is widely used in today’s pop culture, music, marketing, and the pornography industry. Slut has kept its middle English meaning and still refers to a woman of loose morals. There is still no male equivalent to slut.
The word slut became popular as pornography websites became more commonly used and easily accessible, and as the word became more apparent in music and television shows. Slut is often one of the trending words on pornography websites and in rap and hiphop music.
The word slut is commonly interchanged with other offensive terms like hussy, trollop, tramp, and wh*re.
While slut was traditionally a demeaning and sexist word, its use in pop culture may result in a change of tone behind this word. Slut has been tossed around for centuries in hopes to quiet or hush women, but this word doesn’t carry as much weight as it used to.
As cultures change and more people become forward-thinking and the pro-feminist movement, slut isn’t as shameful as it once was. Women are now told to embarrass their bodies and their sexuality, so while slut may have a hurtful history, it doesn’t pack as sour of a punch anymore.
Of course, it can still hurt some people’s feelings, but the overall stigma behind the word isn’t as prevelent.
How Can You Use Slut in a Sentence?
While slut is a traditionally offensive word, pop culture has changed the stigma behind this word quite a bit.
Slut can be used positively and jokingly, as long as the person you’re referring to as a slut knows that your intentions aren’t meant to be offensive or sexist.
Everyone has freedom of speech so you can use slut in any way you feel. However, we never suggest using these terms if they will harm someone’s feelings or reputation.
Synonyms for Slut
Slut has many synonyms that are also considered traditionally offensive or rude — here are some synonyms for slut.
- Tramp
- Wh*re
- Harlot
- Bimbo
- Floozy
- Hussy
- Jade
- Jezebel
- Minx
- Prostitute
- Staten
- Tart
- Vamp
- Malkin
- Quean
The Takeaway
Slut has an interesting history and has taken on a different context throughout. While it’s most commonly used as a slur or rude remark in the English language, it’s not like that in all parts of the world —- similar to how certain words in other languages mean curse words in English.
Sources:
TRAMP | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
