dude

American  

[dood, dyood] / dud, dyud /

noun

1. a man excessively concerned with his clothes, grooming, and manners.

2. Slang

   1. a fellow; chap.

   2. (a general term of address used to a man, woman, or group).

3. a person reared in a large city.

4. Western U.S. an urban Easterner who vacations on a ranch.

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interjection

1. Slang (an expression of shock, approval, sympathy, or other strong feeling).

   Dude! That's one expensive sandwich!

verb phrase

1. dude up to dress in one's fanciest, best, or most stylish clothes; dress up.

   He got all duded up to go to the dance.

dude British  

/ duːd, djuːd /

noun

1. a city dweller, esp one holidaying on a ranch

2. a dandy

3. a person: often used to any male in direct address

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dudish
  adjective
• dudishly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of dude

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; origin uncertain

Explanation

Dude is a slang greeting term between men, meaning "guy" or "man." For example: "Dude! So, like, what's up?" It's been popularized by movies and TV shows, and has a distinctive whiff of American West Coast hippie culture to it. In the American nineteenth century dude had another life as a term for a dandy — a particularly well-groomed and fancily-dressed young man. From this came the term of dude as meaning a big city dweller unfamiliar with the ways of the Wild West. When such types came out West to enjoy the rugged life, they stayed in "dude ranches," basically resorts or spas, not real working ranches, and the term is still around today.

Example Sentences

She has been with the show since it launched and has played a pivotal role in the host’s evolution from purveyor of dude humor to political commentator, people close to him said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

“He’s got certain virtues writers maybe aren’t supposed to have — dude is handsome, socially adroit. But he’s also insanely insightful and genuine.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s name was wrong, and the meme used a picture of some random dude to stand in for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

He won some fame as a surfer dude in Amy Heckerling's 1982 hit teen flick "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

"He look like the type of dude who would own a store that just sells...snacks. Like, you know what kind of guy you gotta be to just sell snacks? Snacks?"

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• buddy
• chap
• fellow