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.

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dingbat British  

/ ˈdɪŋˌbæt /

noun

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

2. a crazy or stupid person

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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

In the original, that’s thanks mostly to Ariel’s talking Caribbean crab guardian, Sebastian, and her Noo Yawky dingbat sea gull pal, Scuttle.

From New York Times ● May 24, 2023

Orthodox families fill the area’s dingbat apartments, duplexes and bungalows, and thousands jam the sidewalks Saturday mornings on their way to Torah services.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 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

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

From Casey Ryan by B. M. Bower