Diss

//dɪs// name, noun, verb, slang

name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An insult or put-down; an expression of disrespect. slang
  2. 2
    Dissertation. slang

    "I've been wondering what happens if I fail my diss. I know i'm allowed to fail 60 credits but I don't think that includes the diss."

  3. 3
    Ampelodesmos mauritanicus syn. Ampelodesmos tenax, a reedy grass used for cordage. uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To put (someone) down, or show disrespect by the use of insulting language or dismissive behaviour. slang

    "When a journalistic rival tries to "dis" you And to prejudice you in the public's eyes. Don't stigmatise his charges as a "tissue Of palpable, unmitigated lies.""

  2. 2
    treat, mention, or speak to rudely wordnet
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A market town and civil parish with a town council in South Norfolk district, Norfolk, England (OS grid ref TM1179).
  2. 2
    A locality in Yellowhead County, Alberta, Canada.

Example

More examples

"When a journalistic rival tries to "dis" you And to prejudice you in the public's eyes. Don't stigmatise his charges as a "tissue Of palpable, unmitigated lies.""

Etymology

Etymology 1

Originated in Jamaican English or African American Vernacular English, probably originally a clipping of disrespect or disparage, both from the prefix dis-, ultimately from Latin dis-.

Etymology 2

Clipping of dissertation.

Etymology 3

From Arabic دِيس (dīs).

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.