Definition

1. Noun:
   • A middle-aged or older man with lecherous inclinations: A derogatory term for a man, typically perceived as being past middle age, who shows an excessive, inappropriate, or creepy sexual interest, especially in much younger people.

Usage

• The term is used as a direct, informal, and critical label for a man's behavior.
• It is often used in a disapproving or humorous context to describe someone whose actions or comments are perceived as sexually inappropriate for his age.
• It functions as a countable noun.

Examples

• Noun:
  • He kept staring at the young women on the beach; everyone thought he was just a dirty old man.
  • The character in the movie is portrayed as a lecherous dirty old man.
  • She complained to her friends about the dirty old man who made an inappropriate comment to her.

Advanced Usage

• The term can sometimes be used hyperbolically or jokingly among friends to tease someone for a minor, non-serious comment about attractiveness, though this is highly context-dependent and can still be offensive.
• It is frequently used in media and storytelling as a stock character or archetype.

Variants and Related Words

• Lecher (n): A person (typically a man) who shows excessive or offensive sexual desire. (This is a more formal synonym but is not age-specific.)
• Pervert (n): A person whose sexual behavior is considered abnormal or unacceptable. (This is a stronger and broader term.)

Synonyms

• Lecher
• Letch (informal)
• Satyr (literary, mythological context)
• Wolf (informal, but less age-specific)

Related Phrases

• To be a dirty old man: This is the standard verbal phrase used to describe someone.
  • He's turning into a dirty old man in his retirement.

Notes on Meaning

• The term strongly implies a combination of three elements: age ("old"), moral judgment ("dirty"), and inappropriate sexual interest ("man").
• It is inherently pejorative. Using it to describe someone is an accusation of creepy and socially unacceptable behavior.
• The "old" in the phrase is relative and can refer to middle age, not necessarily advanced age.

Noun

1. a middle-aged man with lecherous inclinations