Meretricious Definition

mĕrĭ-trĭshəs
adjective
Attracting attention in a vulgar manner.
Meretricious ornamentation.
American Heritage
Of, like, or characteristic of a prostitute.
Webster's New World
Alluring by false, showy charms; attractive in a flashy way; tawdry.
Webster's New World
Superficially plausible; specious.
Webster's New World

Origin of Meretricious

  • From Latin meretrÄ«cius, from meretrÄ«x (“harlot, prostitute"), from mereō (“earn, deserve, merit") (English merit) + -trÄ«x (“(female agent)") (English -trix).

    From Wiktionary

  • Latin meretrīcius of prostitutes from meretrīx meretrīc- prostitute from merēre to earn money (s)mer-2 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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