Words banned on TV generally fall under obscenity, indecency, and profanity, heavily regulated by bodies like the FCC (in the US), meaning sexually explicit or excretory terms and slurs; however, definitions evolve, with some strong words now heard on premium/streaming TV, while "spaz" is a harsh example of a word considered highly offensive in some regions like the UK/Europe.
The seven dirty words are seven English-language profanities that the American comedian George Carlin first listed in his 1972 "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" monologue. The words, in the order Carlin listed them, are: "shit", "piss", "fuck", "cunt", "cocksucker", "motherfucker", and "tits".
Federal law prohibits obscene, indecent and profane content from being broadcast on the radio or TV. That may seem clear enough, but determining what obscene, indecent and profane mean can be difficult, depending on who you talk to.
2025 Banished Words List
The FCC has regulations on broadcast TV, put in place because the airwaves are a limited resource and they want TV to be generally viewable without great offense. So no nudity and no swearing. There actually isn't an official list of words. Instead it's a policy on offensiveness. Also, this applies to all broadcasts.
"Crap" is generally considered mild profanity or vulgar slang, not a true "bad word" like a stronger expletive, but it's inappropriate for formal or professional settings and depends heavily on context, audience, and intent; it can express frustration (e.g., "This crap isn't working") but is best avoided around bosses, teachers, or elders, while being fine with friends.
TV Parental Guidelines
More serious swear words like "a*shole" and "b*tch" are allowed in the TV-14 rating. The F-bomb can be used in TV-14 programs, with moderate uses, moreover it is more limited than in the MPA's PG-13 rating.
A
Words that invoke negativity or sensationalism like "murder", "kill", "fight", "hate" can trigger the algorithm to demote your post. The reason behind this is Facebook's commitment to creating a positive user environment, free from hate speech or violence.
Tricky words in English often involve confusing spellings, silent letters, or subtle meaning differences, with examples including homophones like there/their/they're, spelling challenges like accommodate (double letters) and rhythm (no vowels), and usage confusion such as imply vs. infer, bring vs. take, and sight words like was, are, and the that don't follow phonetic rules. These words can trip up both learners and native speakers due to pronunciation discrepancies or similar forms with distinct meanings.
It certainly was back in 1965, when theatre critic Kenneth Tynan became a pioneer of profanity when he uttered the word 'f–k' live on the BBC. It's thought to be the first time anyone had said the word on English-language television.
A Television content rating system is designated to classify television with regard to suitability for audiences in terms of issues such as sex, violence, substance abuse, profanity, impudence or other types of obscene content.
Broadcasting obscene content is prohibited by law at all times of the day. Indecent and profane content are prohibited on broadcast TV and radio between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., when there is a reasonable risk that children may be in the audience. What about cable, satellite TV and satellite radio?
Damn is nowadays a mildly profane word for some people in English, although God damn (or Goddamn) may be considered blasphemous by the religiously devout, who regard it as a violation of the commandment against taking God's name in vain.
We do not tolerate bullying or harassment, including derogatory comments based on race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, culture, faith, mental or physical abilities, or country of origin, or the amplification of any person, agenda, or movement that promotes discrimination or violence based on ...
Carlin's time in the Air Force came to an end after three years when he was discharged under honorable conditions in 1957. The official reason for his discharge was “incompatibility with military life,” a description that Carlin would later joke about in his comedy routines.
No, Facebook does not provide a feature that allows you to see who views your personal profile, timeline, or page.
To improve visibility:
The 15 most unusual words you'll ever find in English
The word with 645 meanings is "run," according to the Oxford English Dictionary. This number refers specifically to the verb form, making it the most complex word in English, surpassing the former record-holder, "set". Its vast meanings range from physical movement to operating machines, managing businesses, and extending in a direction, a versatility that grew with societal changes like the Industrial Revolution.
18 Amazing English words we've totally forgotten about
Yes, "piss" (as in "p*ss") is considered a mild swear word or vulgar slang, generally impolite in formal settings or with strangers, but acceptable among close friends, though its offensiveness varies by region (e.g., "pissed" means angry in the US but drunk in the UK). You wouldn't say it to your grandma or on public broadcast, but it's common in casual conversation.
usually obscene : an act of copulation.
It is forbidden to broadcast these words on the radio: Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits. However, other language can be deemed in violation by the FCC, if they are seen as Indecent, profane, or obscene.