dingbat

American  

[ding-bat] / ˈdɪŋˌbæt /

noun

1. Slang. an eccentric, silly, or empty-headed person.

2. dingus.

3. Printing. an ornamental piece of type for borders, separators, decorations, etc.

4. an object, as a brick, serving as a missile.

---

dingbat British  

/ ˈdɪŋˌbæt /

noun

1. any unnamed object, esp one used as a missile

2. a crazy or stupid person

---

Etymology

Origin of dingbat

First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain

---

Explanation

A dingbat is an idiot: a person who's dumb, silly, or just empty-headed. There are a lot of insulting words for someone who isn't very smart: moron, dummy, knucklehead, bonehead, etc. Another is dingbat. A dingbat isn't simply dumb, but also ditzy. On the sitcom “All in the Family,” Archie Bunker often called his wife Edith a dingbat. This is an insult, but it's humorous and not that offensive. Dingbats are also characters or ornaments used in typesetting that don't have any meaning. Those dingbats are also a little silly.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dingbat

So he just moved one rung lower, at the behest of a dingbat from the internet.

From Slate ● Apr. 5, 2025

Resting a few feet from a dingbat apartment to the south, the ADU is lifted off the ground to preserve two parking spots in the alley and a swimming pool in front.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2023

Inspired by memories of his friends’ former homes, he imagined a Los Angeles dingbat apartment and a boxy room with aluminum-framed windows — an “incredibly non-special” space.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 25, 2022

Everything about the show is more confident – the physical comedy is goofier, Devi's dingbat logic is more outlandish, and McEnroe's narration easily flows with the action.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2021

Whatever was not a hootin'-annie was a dingbat, and treated accordingly.

From Casey Ryan by B. M. Bower

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---