XXX

Meanings

1. Denotes extreme or hardcore pornography.

1. Extreme or hardcore pornography; or, less strictly, any pornographic content.

1. Extra strong alcohol, particularly ale or (later) any beer.
2. Alcohol.

1. Extra strong; very high quality.

1. To delete; to cross out, especially to conceal or suggest vulgar language.

1. Straight edge (lifestyle and subculture).

1. Triple X syndrome.

1. Alternative form of xxx (“an abbreviation for kisses”).

1. The conventional Morse code call made when in an urgent situation but not in immediate distress.

1. Unknown eye or hair color.
2. Bald.

1. An abbreviation for kisses, usually placed at the end of a letter or text message, often alongside ooo (hugs).

Etymology

1969 (see quotations). Reduplication of X (“an age rating denoting content suitable for adults”), in reference to the X rating introduced by the Motion Picture Association of America on 1 November 1968 for films containing extreme violence, heavily implied (originally softcore) sex and obscene language. Film posters began to include multiple exes (but skipping two) in order to imply even more extreme, hardcore content, particularly in relation to pornography (although many actually contained the same content as X-rated films). Compare XXXX. The original X rating was superseded by NC-17 in 1990; see also R-18.