Jeepers

/ˈdʒiːpərz/ interjection

Definition

A mild exclamation of surprise, wonder, or mild shock; a euphemism for a stronger expression.

Etymology

A minced oath from the 1920s-1930s, a euphemistic substitution for 'Jesus' used to avoid blasphemy while keeping the same sound and emotional punch.

Kelly Says

Minced oaths like 'jeepers,' 'gosh,' and 'darn' reveal how cultures enforce politeness—we literally rewire our mouths to say sanitized versions of forbidden words, making them completely harmless sound-alikes.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.