Meaning & use
bitch
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Meanings
nouncountableoffensivevulgarslang
A very insulting word for a woman considered spiteful, bossy or unpleasant; it is widely seen as offensive and sexist.
Grammar: Countable and used about people; avoid it in polite or professional speech.
Patterns
- call someone a bitch
Many people consider it offensive to call a woman a bitch, even jokingly.
The character is written as a ruthless boss, and critics noted how often she is labeled with that insult.
The school's code of conduct bans insults such as bitch.
nouncountabletechnical
A female dog, or the female of some related animals such as the fox or wolf.
Grammar: Countable and neutral in breeding and veterinary contexts: a bitch and her puppies.
Patterns
- a bitch and her puppies
- a breeding bitch
The bitch gave birth to six puppies last night.
Breeders carefully check the health of the bitch before mating.
The vet examined the pregnant bitch and said she was doing well.
verbintransitiveinformalvulgar
To complain loudly and often, in a bad-tempered way.
Grammar: No object; often followed by about: they bitch about work all day.
Patterns
- bitch about something
- bitch to someone
They spent the whole lunch bitching about their boss.
Stop bitching and help me carry the boxes.
He bitches constantly about the traffic.
nounsingularinformalvulgar
Something very difficult or annoying, as in a problem that is a bitch to solve.
Grammar: Used with a: a bitch to fix; it is informal and crude.
Patterns
- be a bitch to do
Fixing that old boiler was a real bitch.
The exam was a bitch, and half the class failed.
Parking downtown is a bitch on weekends.
Word forms
| plural | bitches |
|---|---|
| third person singular | bitches |
| past tense | bitched |
| past participle | bitched |
| -ing form | bitching |
Common combinations
- breeding bitch
- The kennel keeps a breeding bitch and her latest litter.
- pregnant bitch
- A pregnant bitch needs extra food and rest.
- bitch about
- They bitch about the weather every morning.
- bitch and moan
- He likes to bitch and moan about the schedule.
- a bitch to
- That recipe is a bitch to get right.
Synonyms and how they differ
- complain
- Complain is neutral and polite, whereas bitch is crude and suggests petty grumbling.
- whine
- Whine suggests a high, childish complaining tone and is mildly insulting but less vulgar than bitch.
- grumble
- Grumble is mild and low-key and it is suitable in any setting.
- female dog
- Female dog is the polite, general phrase for the animal sense.
Word family
Practice
Which use of the word bitch is neutral and acceptable in breeding or veterinary contexts?
Choose one answer.
The neutral technical use is a female dog. The other options are informal or offensive uses that should be avoided in polite or professional speech.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bitch”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.