Rudeness

/ˈruːdnəs/ noun

Definition

The quality of being impolite, disrespectful, or offensive to others.

Etymology

From Old English 'ruh,' meaning rough or coarse. 'Rude' originally meant rough or crude in appearance before evolving to mean crude in manners and behavior.

Kelly Says

The word 'rude' used to mean physically rough and coarse before it meant socially rough—this evolution shows how we project physical qualities onto behavior, calling harsh behavior 'rough' or 'sharp.'

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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