baby doll

American  

Also babydoll

noun

1. a doll, especially one resembling a human baby.

2. Also called baby doll nightgown,.  Also called baby doll pajamas.  Often baby dolls. a garment for women or girls consisting of a hip-length top of delicate fabric often decorated with ruffles, ribbons, or lace, with a matching panty, worn for sleeping.

3. a short dress styled to resemble this.

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Usage

What else does baby doll mean? In the literal, a baby doll is just that—a toy baby doll. But it is also a term of endearment for a woman and a style of high-waisted women's dress and nightgown.

Etymology

Origin of baby doll

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

In the Netflix film, Swan demonstrates with calipers on a life-size, anatomically correct male baby doll in a coffee shop to the nervous titters of the participants.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

Then the punchline: "But I'm immortal now, baby doll."

From BBC • Oct. 3, 2025

I was like, "OK, baby doll tubes? Like that? It could be surface here, but how do we up it?"

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2024

The first “Barbie” teaser trailer has arrived to disrupt our expectations of a movie based on a toy — much like Barbie apparently disrupted the baby doll industry.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2022

My mother is handing me a baby doll.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides