Bitch (slang)

Bitch (/bɪtʃ/) is a pejorative slang word for a person, usually a woman. When applied to a woman or girl, it means someone who is belligerent, unreasonable, malicious, controlling, aggressive, or dominant. When applied to a man or boy, bitch reverses its meaning and is a derogatory term for being subordinate, weak, or cowardly. In gay speech the word bitch can refer approvingly to a man who is unusually assertive or has the characteristics used pejoratively of a woman.

The term bitch is one of the most common profanities in the English language. It has been used as a "term of contempt towards women" for "over six centuries", and is a slur that fosters sexism against women. It has been characterized as "an archaic word demeaning women since as early as the 15th century" that seeks to control women. The word is considered taboo in mainstream media, and euphemisms such as "the B-word" are used to minimize its negative impact.

The term bitch literally means a female dog. Its original use as a vulgarism carried a meaning suggesting high sexual desire in a woman, comparable to a dog in heat. The range of meanings has expanded in modern usage (such as when applied to a man). In a feminist context, it can indicate a strong or assertive woman and has therefore been reappropriated by some women.