Fishwife: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a woman who is loud, coarse, and often vulgar in her speech or behavior. This term has a negative connotation and is less about the profession and more about the personality traits associated with it.

• She yelled across the street like a fishwife, causing everyone to look.

Refers to someone who sells fish and seafood. It is often used in British English and can refer to a business that specializes in fish sales. This term is generally neutral.

• We bought some salmon from the local fishmonger for dinner.

Refers to someone who works in selling fish, either in a market or a store. This term is neutral and focuses on the job rather than any personality traits.

• The fish seller at the market always has the freshest seafood.

This term is often used to describe a woman who is rowdy, loud, and coarse in her speech, similar to the stereotype of women who sell fish at markets. It is a derogatory term.

• The argument got so heated, she started yelling like a fishwife.
• Don't mind her; she can behave like a fishwife sometimes.

This phrase is typically used to describe a woman who speaks in a very high volume, often drawing attention. It can be neutral but sometimes carries a slightly negative tone depending on context.

• At the party, there was this one loud woman who everyone could hear.
• The conference was quiet until a loud woman started asking questions.

This term is generally used to refer to a woman who uses crude or offensive language or behaves in a way that is considered inappropriate or lacking in sophistication. It has a negative connotation.

• Her language was so crude, she came across as a vulgar woman.
• Everyone felt uncomfortable because she was acting like a vulgar woman at the dinner.