dud

Part of Speech

Noun, Adjective

Pronunciation

/dʌd/

Definitions

• (Noun) A failure or useless thing, especially something that does not work properly.
• (Noun) An item of clothing (archaic).
• (Adjective) Not working correctly or of no use.

Usage Examples

• The new phone turned out to be a dud.
• He bought a dud battery that didn't last long.

Etymology

From Middle English dodde meaning a ragged garment, later evolving to refer to something ineffective or worthless.

Synonyms

• Failure
• Flop
• Defective

Antonyms

• Success
• Hit
• Effective

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• British English: /dʌd/
• American English: /dʌd/

Historical Usage

First used in the 16th century to describe clothes, the word later gained its modern meaning in the 19th century referring to something ineffective or a failure.

Cultural Nuances

The term is often used in informal contexts to describe products, events, or even people that fail to meet expectations.

More Information

The word dud is commonly used in both British and American English to describe something that is ineffective or disappointing. Its versatility in informal language makes it a frequent part of everyday speech.