"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.
swish
A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.
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"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?"
"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 th…
📜 This word in 1898 dialectexpand
Obliquely ; diagonally ; awry.
Joseph Wright, English Dialect Dictionary (1898–1905)
Definitions
A short rustling, hissing or whistling sound, often made by friction.
"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.
"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.
Comments
Attractive, stylish.
When the boys go swish, they always score
“"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
Comments
(British, colloquial) sophisticated; fashionable; smooth.
This restaurant looks very swish — it even has linen tablecloths.
Comments
For specific readers
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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Other words near "swish" (S)
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Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- whoosh70%
A breathy sound like that of an object passing at high speed.
- reeshle67%
(chiefly, Scotland) To move with, or make, a crashing or rustling sound.
- pish67%
A sibilant noise (e.g. "psshh") made by birders and ornithologists to attract small birds.
- swirl67%
(ambitransitive) To twist or whirl, as an eddy.