Bleeped - Definition, Meaning, and Examples in English

Definition

^{Context #1 | Verb}

sound censorship

Bleeped refers to the action of censoring or muffling out a sound, especially profanity or inappropriate content, by using a beep sound. It is commonly used in television and radio broadcasts to maintain standards of decency. When a piece of audio is bleeped, the offensive words are either completely removed or replaced with a sound, often a beep, to obscure what was said. This practice helps to keep content suitable for broader audiences, especially minors.

Synonyms

censored, masked, muted.

Examples of usage

The comedian's joke was bleeped out during the live show.
Many movies have bleeped versions for television broadcasts.
She was surprised when her favorite song was bleeped on the radio.
The interview was bleeped to avoid any legal issues.
He laughed when he heard the bleeped curse word.

Interesting Facts

Media and Censorship

In the world of television and radio, words that might offend listeners are often bleeped out to maintain broadcasting standards.
Different countries have varying regulations on which words require bleeping, reflecting cultural sensitivities.
Comedians sometimes use intentional bleeps for comedic effect, creating a humorous contrast between the expected and the actual utterance.

Psychology

Research suggests that the use of bleeping can reduce the listener's negative response to bad language while still enabling the conveyance of strong emotions.
The sound can alter how a listener perceives a statement, allowing them to focus on context rather than the offense.
Bleeped language often leads to curiosity, as listeners may fill in the blanks with their imaginations regarding what was said.

Pop Culture

Many shows like 'The Office' and 'South Park' utilize bleeps for comedic purposes, making the moment more memorable.
Prominent movies and series have seen scenes where a bleep signifies a pivotal, intense moment, often leading to viewer laughter.
Artists in music sometimes include bleeps in their tracks to censor explicit language, appealing to a broader audience.

Technology

In the era of podcasts and streaming, automatic bleeping technology has been developed to censor inappropriate content in real-time.
Software programs allowing for on-the-fly editing often integrate bleeping features to help creators maintain community guidelines.
Social media platforms have their own censoring systems, routinely bleeping or blocking certain terminologies to protect users.

Origin of 'bleeped'

Main points about word origin

The term 'bleep' likely originated from the sound made by machines, mimicking a high-pitched signal.
It has been used since the 1960s to refer to censoring speech on television and radio.
The sound is often represented in writing as 'beep' or 'bleep', illustrating its auditory nature.

The term 'bleep' is derived from the sound made by a censoring mechanism that interrupts auditory content. The first known use of 'bleep' in this context dates back to the early days of radio broadcasting in the 1930s. Initially, it referred specifically to the sound emitted by electronic devices to signal a warning or indicate that something has been censored. Over time, this term evolved into a verb form, 'bleeped', as media outlets began adopting stricter content guidelines for public broadcasts. This practice accelerated with the advent of television in the 1950s and '60s, where bleeping became a common technique to obscure offensive language. With the rise of the internet, bleeping is now also employed in video content, online streaming, and various multimedia platforms, reflecting ongoing societal concerns about language, decency standards, and audience sensitivity.

Bleeped Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations