betty
noun
betty
1 American
[bet-ee]
/ ˈbɛt i /
noun
-
betties
plural
Betty
2
American
[bet-ee]
/ ˈbɛt i /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of betty
An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; by shortening
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.
See Examples For:
I love all things cobbler, crumble, crisp and betty.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2022
Sweet pie or homemade pudding, such as apple betty, bread pudding, rice pudding, custard; cookies or homemade cakes or gingerbread, canned fruit; canned babas au rhum, etc.
From Time Magazine Archive
For dessert, there’s a rhubarb-apple betty topped with cinnamon creme anglaise.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
The implement by which the burglar earns his daily bread is now called a jemmy, but in the 17th century we also find bess and betty.
From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Ernest Weekley
Sometimes by the light of a betty lamp in the early winter evenings the journeymen would be still at work, drawing the waxed thread carefully and quickly through the leather.
From In the Days of the Guild by Louise Lamprey
It won for best comedy casting, best comedy guest actress Betty Gilpin and six technical awards.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
“I was 14 and had my first boyfriend. Thanksgiving was coming. I picked from Betty Crocker—corn pudding. Everybody had a little to be nice. I was totally embarrassed.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Panettiere's decision to publicly share her struggles is worthy of respect, said William Moyers, the vice-president of public affairs for Hazelden Betty Ford, the largest nonprofit addiction treatment provider in the US.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
“Not to share a lady’s age, but Betty Boop’s 96 and we’re still talking about her,” Buermann says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
“I’m taking Phyllis to Suesetta’s house. Is Betty coming?”
From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson
Small flasks, like those for Florence wine, are also called betties.
From 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
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.
