gosh

UK: ɡɒʃ | US: ɡɑːʃ

Definition

  1. interj. an exclamation expressing surprise, enthusiasm, or mild annoyance (euphemism for "God")

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

"Gosh" emerged in the mid-18th century as a minced oath—a softened substitute for "God" to avoid blasphemy in polite speech. It reflects a broader trend in English (e.g., "darn" for "damn") where societal taboos drove phonetic modifications. The word retains no morphemic structure but evolved purely through sound alteration.

Examples

  1. "Gosh, that sunset is breathtaking!"

  2. "Oh gosh, I forgot my keys again."

  3. "Gosh, this coffee is hot!"

  4. "Well, gosh, I didn’t expect to see you here!"

  5. "Gosh, it’s been ages since we last met!"