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Synonyms

babe

American  
[beyb] / beɪb /

noun

  1. a baby or child.

    Synonyms:
    nursling, tot, infant, toddler

  2. an innocent or inexperienced person.

  3. Southern U.S. Usually Babe (used, often before the surname, as a familiar name for a boy or man, especially the youngest of a family.)

  4. Slang.

    1. Sometimes Disparaging and Offensive. a girl or woman, especially an attractive one.

    2. an attractive young man.

    3. Sometimes Babe an affectionate or familiar term of address (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, casual acquaintances, subordinates, etc., especially by a male to a female).

idioms

  1. babe in the woods, an innocent, unsuspecting person, especially one likely to be victimized by others: Also babe in the wood.

    Some highly informed people are mere babes in the woods where the stock market is concerned.
babe British  
/ beɪb /

noun

  1. a baby

  2. informal a naive, gullible, or unsuspecting person (often in the phrase a babe in arms )

  3. informal a young woman or man perceived as being sexually attractive

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of babe

First recorded in 1150–1200; 1915–20 babe for def. 4; Middle English; early Middle English baban, probably nursery word in origin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As a suspicious young cineaste, I used to see the 34-year age gap between Bill and the Bride as just another dumb Hollywood fantasy where older guys land whatever babe they want.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

The lorry driver's final conversation with her ended with her saying: "OK babe, drive safe, I love you."

From BBC • Jul. 9, 2025

To any man who made a pop album in 2024: Good luck, babe.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2024

One person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, “like what’s the plan babe what are we doing.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 7, 2023

“If he does not breathe ...” Bran found himself remembering the tales Old Nan had told him when he was a babe.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.