pornographic

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'pornographic' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adjective and can be used to describe material (such as images and videos) that contain sexual content or activity intended to arouse. For example, "The pornographic content on this website is offensive and should be removed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were explicitly pornographic, of the gonzo not vanilla variety, and audience members (particularly school children) spent much of the day pouring over them with fascination.

The Guardian

Twenty years, it's like, 'wow, where did that go?'" Porno sees Renton, Sick Boy and Begbie, along with the hapless Spud, becoming embroiled in a scheme to raise cash by making a pornographic movie.

The Guardian - Film

My own school career included stealing, shouting at teachers, smashing windows, submitting aggressively pornographic stories as GCSE coursework, getting caught having sex, nearly getting expelled, earning one E at A-level, and not heading off to Oxford University, as my parents had hoped, but to a job in a shop from which I was sacked for thieving.

The Guardian

It will be based loosely on the book Porno by Irvine Welsh, in which the Trainspotting author imagined Renton, Sickboy, Begbie and Spud becoming embroiled in a scheme to raise cash by making a pornographic movie many years after the events of the earlier book.

The Guardian - Film

Beckman said the trilogy did not qualify "because the prize's rubric explicitly excludes pornographic and erotic literature".

The Guardian - Books

So it is presumably for a celebrated performance in the The Stud, the pornographic movie in which a naked Dame Joan stood out by bravely feigning sex on a swing, that both the honours committee's Sir Bob Kerslake and the Queen felt compelled to thank her, on all our behalves, exalting her over colleagues such as Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, and Helen McCrory.

The Guardian - Opinion

The frankness of the Frenchman's language and the physicality of his characters - who crap and copulate as frequently as any real person - meant that publishers here considered his work pornographic.

The Guardian - Books

Denis found herself briefly bracketed with the "new French extremity" wave of films, fashionable in the late 1990s for depicting sex and death with pornographic relish.

The Guardian - Film

A couple of years ago, I discovered that he'd been watching pornographic films.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The shot's aesthetic is almost always unabashedly pornographic.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Mature people should behave according to their own conscience," he says, defending the right of people to watch skin-flicks which he himskin-flicks which says.The proposed law will ban thimself of pornographic vidislikess and magazines, theugh it will says.Thelow shoproposedlawhardwill like vibanthesale

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "pornographic" content, use precise language to avoid ambiguity. Consider the specific context and audience to determine the most appropriate and respectful terminology.

Common error

Avoid using "pornographic" as a blanket term for all sexually suggestive content. Differentiate between erotic art, softcore pornography, and hardcore pornography based on the level of explicitness and artistic intent.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "pornographic" primarily functions as a modifier, describing nouns related to content, materials, or activities that are explicitly sexual and intended to cause arousal. This is evident in Ludwig's examples, such as "pornographic movie" and "pornographic images".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pornographic" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective to describe explicitly sexual content. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English. While the term itself is neutral to formal, it is crucial to consider the sensitivity of the context and audience. As evidenced by Ludwig's examples, it is primarily found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When employing "pornographic", be mindful of the nuances and consider using related terms like "sexually explicit" or "obscene", based on the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sexually explicit

Emphasizes the overt sexual nature of the content.

explicit

Highlights the clear and unambiguous depiction of sexual acts or content.

obscene

Highlights the offensive or morally repugnant character.

indecent

Suggests a violation of accepted standards of propriety.

lewd

Implies a crude and offensive display of sexuality.

vulgar

Focuses on the lack of refinement or good taste.

risque

Suggests a slightly shocking or provocative quality.

erotic

Emphasizes the sexually arousing nature but typically less explicit.

blue

Informal term suggesting sexually suggestive or indecent content.

smutty

Implies a dirty or indecent quality.

FAQs

How can I use "pornographic" in a sentence?

You can use "pornographic" to describe images, videos, or other content that contains explicit depictions of sexual activity. For example, "The website was shut down due to its "pornographic" content".

What's the difference between "pornographic" and "erotic"?

"Pornographic" typically refers to content created primarily for sexual arousal, often with explicit depictions, whereas "erotic" content focuses more on sensuality and may be suggestive rather than explicit.

What are some synonyms for "pornographic"?

Synonyms for "pornographic" include "sexually explicit", "obscene", "indecent", and "lewd", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the word "pornographic"?

Use "pornographic" when accurately describing content that is explicitly sexual and intended to cause arousal, particularly in legal, academic, or critical contexts. Avoid using it gratuitously or in contexts where it could be considered offensive.