-word

In reference to a word that may be offensive.

English word.

People use this suffix to generate euphemisms for taboo terms: the C-word, the F-word. It is used facetiously, especially in political and journalistic contexts, with the implication that to say a word in full would be ‘talking dirty’: L-word (liberal), E-word (Europe).

Many other examples of terms ending in ‑word exist, such as foreword, buzzword, password, and watchword, but these are considered to be compounds of word.