Swear jar

A swear jar (also known as a swearing jar, cuss jar, swear box or cuss bank) is a device intended to discourage people from using profanity.^[1] Every time someone uses profanity, others who witness it collect a "fine", by insisting that the offender put some money into the box.^[2] The container may be made of glass, porcelain, or metal, and may have a lid with a slot. From time to time, the accumulated money may be used for some agreed-upon purpose, or contributed to charity.

The concept appears to have originated in the 1890s, under the name "swear box",^[3][4] and to have gained popularity in the 1910s.^[5] The term "swear jar" appears to have been invented in the 1980s in the United States, and is not documented in Great Britain;^[5] an early mention of a swear jar is in the 1988 U.S. movie Moving. The concept of swear box or jar became very popular in the 1980s.^[5]

A swear jar might not be a physical object; instead, a notional swear jar is referred to in order to indicate someone's use of profanity has been noted.