Raising TV-14 meaning: what the TV-14 rating means for parents
TV-14 meaning: TV-14 stands for "Parents Strongly Cautioned." Under the US TV Parental Guidelines, a TV-14 program "contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14." Letters after it show why: D for intensely suggestive dialogue, L for strong coarse language, S for intense sexual situations, V for intense violence. Networks and producers rate their own shows.
TV-14 at a glance
| Official meaning | TV-14 – Parents Strongly Cautioned: "contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14" source |
|---|---|
| Rated by | Networks or producers, under the TV Parental Guidelines source |
| Content letters | D (intensely suggestive dialogue), L (strong coarse language), S (intense sexual situations), V (intense violence) source |
| Neighbors | TV-PG below it; TV-MA (mature audience only) above it |
Checked October 2026. Official wording from the rating board; rules can differ by country.
What does TV-14 mean?
Short answer: Parents strongly cautioned: some material many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14.
The US TV ratings, from lowest to highest, are TV-Y (all children), TV-Y7 (ages 7 and older), TV-G, TV-PG (parental guidance suggested), TV-14, and TV-MA (mature audience only).
What the letters after TV-14 mean
According to the TV Parental Guidelines, content letters show why a show got its rating. On TV-14 they mean D intensely suggestive dialogue, L strong coarse language, S intense sexual situations, and V intense violence; on lower ratings the same letters mean milder content. TV-Y7 shows can add FV for fantasy violence.
Who decides TV ratings?
Programs are "voluntarily rated by broadcast and cable television networks, or program producers," according to the TV Parental Guidelines. Streaming services use the same labels. TVs 13 inches or larger made after January 2000 include a V-chip that can block shows by rating.
TV-14 vs. TV-MA and TV-PG
TV-PG means parental guidance suggested. TV-MA is designed for adults and may be unsuitable under 17. See TV-MA explained.
TV-14 in our parent guides
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Wednesday
Wednesday age rating explained: TV-14 in the US. What's in the Netflix series, when season 3 comes out, and why young kids know the Wednesday dance.
FAQ
What does TV-14 stand for?
Parents Strongly Cautioned: some material many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14.
Is TV-14 the same as PG-13?
They're different systems with similar cautions: TV-14 is a TV rating set by networks, PG-13 a movie rating set by the MPA.
What do the letters after TV-14 mean?
On TV-14, D is intensely suggestive dialogue, L strong coarse language, S intense sexual situations, and V intense violence.
What is TV-PG?
Parental guidance suggested: the rating below TV-14.
More age ratings explained
TV-MA
Mature audience only: what the TV-MA rating means and who decides it.
PG-13
Parents strongly cautioned: what PG-13 means, and that it has no age limit.
PG
Parental guidance suggested: what PG means, and why a PG movie can still be scary.
Raising Stoics is a 12-week program for ages 5–6, built on Stoic philosophy and developmental psychology.