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swish

A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.

swɪʃCurrent113 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
👗 Fashion & Lifestyle
4 definitions
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Seen in the wild
4 citations · last seen May 2026

Seen in the wild

📜 This word in 1898 dialectexpand

Obliquely ; diagonally ; awry.

Joseph Wright, English Dialect Dictionary (1898–1905)

Definitions

UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK

A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.

For parents

"swish" means: A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"swish" means: A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

Attractive, stylish.

When the boys go swish, they always score
Heard in the wild
  • “"Hell ya, I've heard of Obama! He's awesome! I watched him swish a three-pointer! Can you make a three-point shot on the court, mister?"”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “"Steph Curry's 4th straight game with 3+ 3s on 12-17 from downtown! Warriors' 18 threes vs. HOU was a perfect blend of swish and movement. With Curry & Klay on the court, the Dubs' 3-ball threat is suffocating! Can they keep this hot streak going? #DubNation"”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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UK
#3·Apr 27, 2026UK

(British, colloquial) sophisticated; fashionable; smooth.

This restaurant looks very swish — it even has linen tablecloths.
Origin: From noun, imitative of the sound. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Heard in the wild
  • “WNBA season preview: What should be the expectation for the Washington Mystics and all their rookies? via Swish Appeal Read on the Bet on Her app: https://api.bet-on-her.com/s/f7cUWc”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Swish Fee Coffee Coupon Code: k1txzx1 by Main_Regret1660”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

"swish" means: A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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UK

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👗About Fashion & Lifestyle slang

The aesthetic vocabulary of how people dress now — quiet luxury, coquette, mob wife, coastal grandmother, Y2K core, and every "-core" that came after.

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