English Explanatory Dictionary

meretricious

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Tastelessly gaudy; superficially attractive but having in reality no value or substance; falsely alluring.
  2. Involving unlawful sexual connection or lack of consent by at least one party (said of a romantic relationship).
  3. Of, or relating to prostitutes or prostitution.

Pronunciation

/ˌmɛɹɪˈtɹɪʃəs/ /ˌmɛɹəˈtɹɪʃəs/ en-us-meretricious.ogg

Word forms

meretricious more meretricious most meretricious

Etymology

From Latin meretrīcius, from meretrīx (“harlot, prostitute”), from mereō (“earn, deserve, merit”) (English merit) + -trīx (“(female agent)”) (English -trix).

Synonyms

specious brassy cheap flashy garish gaudy gimcrack tacky tatty tawdry trashy

Related words

merit

Derived words

meretriciously meretriciousness unmeretricious
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