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expletive

noun [C]
 
 
/ɪkˈspliː.tɪv/ US  /ˈek.splə.t̬ɪv/

Definition

formal a word that is considered offensive: She dropped the book on her foot and let out a row/string of expletives.Swearing and blasphemy expletive deleted used when an offensive word has been removed from a report of what someone has saidSwearing and blasphemy
(Definition of expletive noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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