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Synonyms

beau

American  
[boh] / boʊ /

noun

plural

beaus, beaux
  1. a male lover or sweetheart.

  2. a frequent and attentive male escort for a girl or woman.

  3. a dandy; fop.

    Synonyms:
    coxcomb, dude, blade, swell, peacock

verb (used with object)

  1. to escort (a girl or woman), as to a social gathering.

beau British  
/ bəʊ /

noun

  1. a lover, sweetheart, or escort of a girl or woman

  2. a man who is greatly concerned with his clothes and appearance; dandy

"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

Other Word Forms

  • beauish adjective

Etymology

Origin of beau

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from French, from Latin bellus “beautiful”

Explanation

A beau is an old-fashioned term for "boyfriend." When your great-grandmother was young, she probably had a beau. Beau means "handsome" in French. Pronounce it the same way the French do, with a long o: "boh." The word recalls more innocent times, when gentleman courted their ladies and skirts barely rose above ankle level. You'll hardly ever hear beau used today, unless you're watching a movie, play or television drama set in the past.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing beau

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.

When she begins dating the owner of a local pet shop, Iona immediately falls in step with her yuppie new beau.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

When I ask for his American political beau ideal, he says Alexander Hamilton.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

Octavia, in which a gushing party girl falls instantly in love with a blond, sharp-cheeked beau called Jeremy, later became an ITV series.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025

Though her wedding celebration was reported in May 2023, the Aussie performer married her beau officially on Dec. 28, 2022, according to documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2025

He smiles at Saint Sarah as if he’s expecting her to say, Aw shucks, beau.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali