Meaning & use
shock jock
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableinformaldisapproving
A radio presenter who deliberately offends or startles listeners with crude or extreme opinions to attract a large audience.
Grammar: Takes an article: he is a shock jock.
Patterns
- a radio shock jock
- a shock jock host
The shock jock was fired after a rude joke about a local charity.
Critics say the shock jock earns his ratings by stirring up anger.
She started as a quiet announcer but became a famous shock jock.
Word forms
| plural | shock jocks |
|---|
Common combinations
- radio shock jock
- The radio shock jock ranted about the new law.
- controversial shock jock
- A controversial shock jock hosts the morning show.
- fire a shock jock
- The station fired a shock jock over his remarks.
- shock jock host
- The shock jock host often argues with callers.
- popular shock jock
- A popular shock jock drew millions of listeners.
Synonyms and how they differ
- provocateur
- A provocateur deliberately stirs up trouble in any field, while shock jock is limited to broadcasting.
- radio host
- Radio host is neutral and does not suggest offensive behavior.
- talk-show host
- A talk-show host may be calm or serious, while a shock jock is deliberately outrageous.
- disc jockey
- A disc jockey plays music, whereas a shock jock mainly talks.
Word family
Commonly confused: shock jock or disc jockey?
shock jock vs disc jockey
A disc jockey plays and introduces recorded music, while a shock jock is known for offensive talk.
Practice
A radio host who says offensive things on purpose to attract listeners is called a ____.
Choose one answer.
A shock jock uses outrageous talk to gain attention. A news anchor reads the news calmly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shock jock”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.