What Does NFSW Mean in a Text?
The Quick Answer
NFSW means "Not For Showing Wife" and "Need For Speed: World."Not For Showing Wife
NFSW indicates that the contents of a message are probably not suitable for a man to share with his wife or partner. It is usually placed in the subject line of a message, to let the recipient know that it contains content of a sexually explicit, misogynistic, or racist nature and should not be opened when the recipients screen can be seen by other people - especially by the recipients wife. For example:
- Jack: Jill saw that picture of us on Saturday night!
- John: Why did you show her?
- Jack: I didn't. I opened it when she was in the room. You should have put NFSW in the title!
Need For Speed: World
NFSW can also refer to the "Need For Speed: World." This was a racing video game, part of the popular "Need for Speed" franchise. Launched in 2010, it was unique for being a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, offering players an expansive open world to explore and race in. It combined elements of previous titles, allowing for competitive racing, car customization, and police pursuits, all within a social gaming framework.
- Jo: What's your favorite ever game?
- Lee: It's gotta be NFSW! That's where it all started for me.
Image for NFSW
When I write NFSW, I mean this:
NFSW can also be used with the meaning "Need For Speed: World."
Summary of Key Points
"Not For Showing Wife" is, by far, the most common meaning for NFSW when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)| NFSW | |
|---|---|
| Definition: | Not For Showing Wife |
| Type: | Abbreviation |
| Guessability: |  2: Quite easy to guess |
| Typical Users: |  Adults |
Second Definition of NFSW
"Need For Speed: World" is the most popular definition for NFSW in gaming related chat.| NFSW | |
|---|---|
| Definition: | Need For Speed: World |
| Type: | Abbreviation |
| Guessability: |  4: Difficult to guess |
| Typical Users: |  Adults, Teenagers, and Under 13s |
An Academic Look at NFSW
NFSW is classified as an initialism abbreviation, as it is pronounced one letter at a time. Other examples of initialisms are AI ("Artificial Intelligence") and EW ("Electronic Warfare"). Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are abbreviations spoken as words (e.g., GOAT ("Greatest Of All Time"), NATO ("North Atlantic Treaty Organization").
Example of NFSW Used in a Text
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