Innuendo

Innuendo is a figure of speech that conveys a meaning indirectly through insinuation or allusion rather than stating it explicitly. It relies on listeners' or readers' ability to infer a hidden or suggestive point about a person, action, or situation. Unlike a direct claim, an innuendo leaves the subject unspoken or ambiguous, which can make it provocative or defamatory depending on the context.

Etymology: The term derives from Latin innuere “to hint at” or “to insinuate,” via the English noun innuendo, first attested in the 17th century. The core idea is to indicate something by suggestion rather than by direct statement.

Forms and usage: Innuendo occurs across literature, comedy, journalism, and everyday speech. It includes double entendre, where two meanings are possible, one often risqué or humorous. It can be sexual, political, or related to reputation. An innuendo may be a deliberate rhetorical tactic or an inadvertent implication that arises from ambiguous phrasing. In legal contexts, defamation claims may hinge on whether a statement conveyed an innuendo that could harm a person's reputation even if the surface meaning appears innocent.

Examples: A line such as “If you know what I mean, the terms aren’t as straightforward as they seem” hints at hidden implications without stating them outright. In satire, writers frequently use innuendo to critique public figures without naming them directly.

Related concepts include double entendre and insinuation.