expletive

[ ek-spli-tiv ]
/ ˈɛk splɪ tɪv /

noun

an interjectory word or expression, frequently profane; an exclamatory oath.
a syllable, word, or phrase serving to fill out.
Grammar. a word considered as regularly filling the syntactic position of another, as it in It is his duty to go, or there in There is nothing here.

adjective

Also ex·ple·to·ry [ek-spli-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˈɛk splɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/. added merely to fill out a sentence or line, give emphasis, etc.: Expletive remarks padded the speech.

Origin of expletive

1600–10; < Late Latin explētīvus serving to fill out, equivalent to Latin explēt(us) filled, filled up (past participle of explēre; see explement) + -īvus -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM expletive

ex·ple·tive·ly, adverb

Words nearby expletive

explanation, explanatory, explant, explement, explementary angle, expletive, explicable, explicandum, explicans, explicate, explication

Example sentences from the Web for expletory

  • This was a new addition to his expletory vocabulary, which had accrued from Ned Burnleigh's companionship.

    The Red Acorn |John McElroy

British Dictionary definitions for expletory

expletive
/ (ɪkˈspliːtɪv) /

noun

an exclamation or swearword; an oath or a sound expressing an emotional reaction rather than any particular meaning
any syllable, word, or phrase conveying no independent meaning, esp one inserted in a line of verse for the sake of the metre

adjective Also: expletory (ɪkˈspliːtərɪ)

expressing no particular meaning, esp when filling out a line of verse

Derived forms of expletive

expletively, adverb

Word Origin for expletive

C17: from Late Latin explētīvus for filling out, from explēre, from plēre to fill

Cultural definitions for expletory

expletive
[ (ek-spluh-tiv) ]

Any exclamation or oath, especially one that is obscene or profane, as in “Dammit, I forgot to buy the milk.”

notes for expletive

The Oval Office tapes of President Richard Nixon, released during the investigation of the Watergate scandal, made famous the phrase “expletive deleted,” which appeared frequently in expurgated transcripts of the tapes.