beau

noun

plural beaux ˈbōz How to pronounce beau (audio) or beaus

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.
Haack follows her new beau on Instagram, but his account is private. Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 13 Jan. 2025 Michael has made plenty of enemies over the years, including his ex Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen) and her new beau Drew Quartermaine (Cameron Mathison). Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 Jan. 2025 Barnes’ snaps of her beau have included a sweet post from September 2023 of the couple in the middle of an embrace, an October 2024 picture posing with Ewers donning his UT Austin gear and on the field with the football star in December 2024. Francesca Gariano, People.com, 11 Jan. 2025 In a move that delighted fans, who have long been desperate to catch a glimpse of Fahy and Woodall together, the actor tagged her beau in the post. Isaac Bickerstaff, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near beau

Cite this Entry

“Beau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beau. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

beau

noun
plural beaux ˈbōz How to pronounce beau (audio) or beaus
ˈbōz
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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!