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Scum
01
a person regarded as despicable, worthless, or utterly contemptible
Offensive
Slang
What is the origin of the term "scum" and how is it used?
"Scum" comes from a Middle English word referring to the layer of dirt or foam that forms on the surface of liquids, especially during boiling or decay. By metaphor, it was applied to people by the 19th century to suggest moral filth or worthlessness. It is used in insults, crime reporting, or heated arguments to label someone as despicable or contemptible. The term is strongly derogatory but not necessarily vulgar.
Examples
That cheating scum took off with her life savings and never looked back.
02
a film of impurities or vegetation that can form on the surface of a liquid
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Simple
Uncountable
to scum
01
remove the scum from
Grammatical Information
Composition
derived
Action verb
Regular
Present tense
scum
3rd person singular
scums
Present participle
scumming
Past simple
scummed
Past participle
scummed
