meretricious
pronunciation
How to pronounce meretricious in British English:
UK [ˌmerəˈtrɪʃəs]
How to pronounce meretricious in American English:
US [ˌmɛrɪˈtrɪʃəs]
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- Adjective:
- like or relating to a prostitute
- tastelessly showy
- based on pretense; deceptively pleasing
Word Origin
- meretricious (adj.)
- 1620s, "pertaining to harlots," from Latin meretricius "of or pertaining to prostitutes," from meretrix (genitive meretricis) "prostitute," literally "woman who earns money," from merere, mereri "to earn, gain" (see merit (n.)). Meaning "gaudily alluring" is from 1630s. Related: Meretriciously; meretriciousness.
Example
- 1. There is a difference between a padded bra and silicone implants-the padded bra can be safely removed after it has served its purpose ; the " porn boob " has rendered the bra meretricious , obsolete .
- 2. When I asked him how the macintosh might fit in his career , he interrupted me even before I got the word out . " I don 't have a career , " he said icily , implying that he was above such meretricious concepts .