Cad
/kæd/
nounBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
A man who behaves in a way considered dishonorable, especially toward women.
/kæd/
nounnegativeBeginner
General
A dishonest or dishonorable man.
He's a complete cad!
💡 Simply: A bad or unpleasant man.
More Examples
2
That cad cheated on his wife.
How It's Used
Informal Conversation
"He's such a cad; he left her without a word."
From Middle English *cad, possibly from a shortening of 'caddis' (a type of worm) or of uncertain origin, possibly related to words meaning 'rascal' or 'rogue'.
The word has long held a negative connotation, often appearing in literature to describe unprincipled male characters.
Memory tip
Think of 'cad' as a shortened, informal version of 'cadillac' – a luxurious but potentially unreliable thing, just like a cad.
Practice
caddkad
Usage
70%Spoken
30%Written