bluebeard

noun

blue·​beard ˈblü-ˌbird How to pronounce bluebeard (audio)
often capitalized
: a man who marries and kills one wife after another

Examples of bluebeard in a Sentence

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.
Other fall bloomers: Pink and purple asters, salvia, lantana, Dark Knight bluebeard. Uyeta Landscape and Maintenance, The Seattle Times, 28 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

Bluebeard, a fairy-tale character

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bluebeard was in 1795

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Bluebeard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bluebeard. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on bluebeard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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