beau

noun

ˈbō How to pronounce beau (audio)
plural beaux ˈbōz How to pronounce beau (audio) or beaus
Synonyms of beaunext
1
: dandy sense 1
2
: boyfriend sense 1

Synonyms of beau

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Examples of beau in a Sentence

Her beaux between marriage generally fell into two categories: ineffectual pretty boys or handsome brutes. —Joanne Kaufman, People, 21 Mar. 1988
This was essentially the vehicle that had been perfected, through more than a century or two, for—and by—a continuing line of fops, beaux, macaronis, dudes, bucks, blades, swells, bloods and mashers. —Osbert Sitwell, The Scarlet Tree, 1975
She introduced us to her latest beau. her new beau brought flowers when he picked her up for their first date
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At the top of her list is a new beau. — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026 Olga, on the other hand just, like, moves on, when her beau is killed in that duel, finding a soldier to dote on in the very next scene. — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026 After a year apart, Bruss moved back to Los Angeles to be with her beau and the rest was history. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 3 July 2026 In addition to a potential new beau, Randolph wants Ainsley to find herself in season 3. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for beau

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from beau, bel (masculine), belle (feminine) "beautiful, good-looking," going back to Old French bel, going back to Latin bellus, probably going back (via *duellos, assimilated from *duenlos) to *dwenelos, diminutive of *dwe-nos "good" (whence Old Latin duenos, Latin bonus) — more at bounty

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beau was in 1653

Phrases Containing beau

Rhymes for beau

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Beau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beau. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Etymology

from French beau "boyfriend," from beau (adjective) "fine, beautiful," derived from Latin bellus "pretty" — related to beauty, belle

More from Merriam-Webster on beau

Nglish: Translation of beau for Spanish Speakers

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