prude

The term prude refers to a person who is described as being easily shocked by matters of sex, nudity, or perceived immorality, often displaying excessive modesty or propriety. The word originated from the French adjective prude, meaning "virtuous" or "honorable" (originally the feminine form of preux), but by the early 18th century in English, it had evolved to specifically describe a woman affecting a false or excessive amount of modesty.

Usage of the term is often contested because it is primarily employed as a pejorative label to shame individuals—historically women—for having personal boundaries or traditional values regarding sexuality. Critics argue that the term promotes a culture where declining sexual advances or disliking vulgarity is framed as a personality defect or a sign of repression. Conversely, some speakers maintain that the term is a valid descriptor for individuals who are actively judgmental or intolerant of others' lifestyle choices. Recently, a smaller subset of people have attempted to reclaim the word to proudly signify a commitment to sexual selectivity or conservatism.

Example:
"She worried that declining the invitation to the skinny-dipping party would make everyone think she was a total prude."

Example:
"He decided to own the label, arguing that being a prude simply meant he valued emotional connection over casual encounters."