off-color

off-col·or

O o

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [awf, of kuhl-er]
- /ɔf, ɒf ˈkʌl ər/
- /ɒf ˈkʌl.ər/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [awf, of kuhl-er]
- /ɔf, ɒf ˈkʌl ər/

Definitions of off-color word

adjective off-color not having the usual or standard color: an off-color gem. 1
adjective off-color of doubtful propriety or taste; risqué: an off-color joke. 1
adjective off-color not in one's usual health: to feel off-color. 1
adjective off-color An off-color joke or remark is rude or offensive. 0
adjective off-color varying from the usual, standard, or required color 0
adjective off-color not quite proper; in rather poor taste; risqué 0

See all 6 definitions of off-color

Information block about the term

Origin of off-color

First appearance:

before 1855

One of the 30% newest English words

First recorded in 1855-60

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Off-color

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Off-color

off-color popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 34% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

According to our data about 63% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

Synonyms for off-color

adj off-color

aberrant — Aberrant means unusual and not socially acceptable.
abnormal — Someone or something that is abnormal is unusual, especially in a way that is worrying.
amoral — If you describe someone as amoral, you do not like the way they behave because they do not seem to care whether what they do is right or wrong.
bawdy — A bawdy story or joke contains humorous references to sex.
big mouth — If you say that someone is a big mouth or that they have a big mouth, you mean that they tell other people things that should have been kept secret.

adjective off-color

crummy — Something that is crummy is unpleasant, of very poor quality, or not good enough.
dirty — soiled with dirt; foul; unclean: dirty laundry.
dislikable — Not capable or worthy of being liked; not liked; regarded with displeasure or aversion.
erogenous — (of a part of the body) Sensitive to sexual stimulation.
erotic — Of, relating to, or tending to arouse sexual desire or excitement.

All 42 Synonyms of off-color