What does farted mean?
Farted is the simple past tense of fart, an informal verb meaning to expel intestinal gas through the anus. It is one of the most universally recognized words in English for a bodily function that is at once ordinary and socially embarrassing, which explains why it so often appears in humor, from children's jokes to situational comedy. The word carries a distinctly casual, low-register tone: it would be out of place in formal prose, where writers typically reach for clinical alternatives such as flatulence or politer phrasings like passed wind. Despite its crudeness, farted is entirely standard English, attested since the Old English period in related forms and understood throughout the English-speaking world with no meaningful regional variation. Its enduring usefulness lies precisely in its directness — when a speaker wants to name the act plainly, often for comic effect, farted remains the natural choice, balancing bluntness with a hint of playfulness.
verbPast tense of fart: to have expelled intestinal gas through the anus.
- To have expelled intestinal gas through the anus (past tense of fart).
"He farted loudly during the quiet ceremony, and half the room struggled not to laugh."
"She farted in yoga class and pretended it was her mat."
"The old hound farted contentedly by the fireplace all evening."
"Fart" is one of the rare Anglo-Saxon words that has kept its original meaning — and much of its shock value — for over a thousand years.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of farted
The verb fart derives from Old English feortan, which in turn comes from the Proto-Germanic root *fertan, making it a genuine inheritance from the earliest Germanic languages rather than a later borrowing. It shares distant origins with related words in other Germanic languages, such as German furzen. The word has been in continuous colloquial use for over a millennium, remarkably retaining both its original meaning and its earthy register.
Related word forms
How farted is actually used
Strictly informal and somewhat crude; avoided in formal writing, where euphemisms like "passed wind" or "flatulence" are preferred. Universally understood across the English-speaking world, but often considered impolite in mixed company.