Definition of "expletive" in English

adjective

1. Serving to fill up, merely for effect, otherwise redundant.

2. Marked by expletives (phrase-fillers).

noun

1. A profane, vulgar term, notably a curse or obscene oath.

   • If we don't take advantage of any [expletive] in any way, then it's our loss.

2. (linguistics) A word without meaning added to fill a syntactic position.

3. (linguistics) A word that adds to the strength of a phrase without affecting its meaning (such as fuckin in "there's no fuckin way he's gonna get away with it").

4. An obscene or otherwise offensive interjection (such as shit, fuck, or damn it).