XXX

Meaning

Symbol

Denotes extreme or hardcore pornography.

Adj

Extreme or hardcore pornography; or, less strictly, any pornographic content.

Adj

Extra strong; very high quality.

Verb

To delete; to cross out, especially to conceal or suggest vulgar language.

Noun

Triple X syndrome.

Noun

Alternative form of xxx (“an abbreviation for kisses”).

Noun

The conventional Morse code call made when in an urgent situation but not in immediate distress.

Synonyms

adult

🧑

mucky

pornographic

porny

thirty

XXXX

30

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌʔɛks.ʔɛksˈʔɛks/

Etymology

1969 (see quotations). Reduplication of X (“an age rating denoting content suitable for adults”), in reference to the X rating introduced by the Motion Picture Association of America on 1 November 1968 for films containing extreme violence, heavily implied (originally softcore) sex and obscene language. Film posters began to include multiple exes (but skipping two) in order to imply even more extreme, hardcore content, particularly in relation to pornography (although many actually contained the same content as X-rated films). Compare XXXX. The original X rating was superseded by NC-17 in 1990; see also R18.