bubblegum

1 of 2

adjective

bub·​ble·​gum ˈbə-bəl-ˌgəm How to pronounce bubblegum (audio)
: appealing to or characteristic of preteens or adolescents
bubblegum fashions

bubble gum

2 of 2

noun

1
: a chewing gum that can be blown into large bubbles
2
usually bubblegum : rock music having simple repetitive phrasings and intended especially for young teenagers

Examples of bubblegum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The Loneliest Time is her most emotionally adventurous music yet—high-gloss post-bubblegum synth-pop that packs a serious punch even at its fizziest. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2022 Nestled stubbornly in the green are around 900 bubblegum-pink eggs, clumped together and hardened with time. Elena Bruess, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Oct. 2022 The superstar also sported bubblegum-pink hair, a departure from her usual blond tresses. Amina Niasse, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2022 Her beauty look included a curly bubblegum-pink wig worn in a half-up style and a pale pink bow, as well as bright colored contacts. Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Aug. 2022 In the photos posted on Instagram, the little fashionista wears a bubblegum-pink denim skirt paired with a matching tank top and light pink Crocs. Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 18 Aug. 2022 Armed with a broom and dressed in a bubblegum-pink vest, Nadiya Antonova was one of those trying to clean up, clearing smaller chunks of rubble from a highway. Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 July 2022 The artist transformed the actress into a pop-art icon by giving her a bubblegum-pink face, ruby lips and blue eye shadow set against a sage-blue background. Kelly Crow, WSJ, 10 May 2022
Noun
While Barbie mostly features dance bops and bubble gum fare from mood-boosting VIPs (Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj, Charli XCX), ice queen Billie Eilish came in clutch with its emotional apex. Jason Lamphier, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2023 Full of fashion risks, Minaj teamed her white top and latex pants with a bubble gum pink cropped fuzzy jacket and fluffy heeled boots in the same color. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 12 Dec. 2023 Bazooka Candy Brands, which includes the popular bubble gum and candies, just sold for $700 million. USA TODAY, 19 Aug. 2023 Shop their wide range of colors, including the popular Candy Girl, which has a cream finish and bubble gum pink undertones. Christina Montoya Fiedler, Woman's Day, 17 Aug. 2023 The bags come in various colorways including teal snake skin, bubble gum pink, and pebbled gray leather. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 25 Aug. 2023 In Lawrence’s The Builders, completed in 1980 and on view midway through the show, laborers—their saws and wood planks cast in mustard yellows and bubble gum pinks—hammer away at a building taking shape, tools strewn about. Angelica Aboulhosn, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023 The number already has a bubble gum pop flavor, which lends it easily to the KIDZ BOP treatment. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 23 June 2023 In her professional life, Cyndi Lauper has been a kaleidoscope of personae: ’80s pop hitmaker; New Wave fashion guru; proto-Third-Wave feminist; LGBTQ activist; Broadway composer and lyricist; chameleon powerhouse vocalist; and bubble gum punk Brooklynese comedian. Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bubblegum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1969, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bubblegum was in 1937

Dictionary Entries Near bubblegum

bubble gum

bubblegum

bubblehead

Cite this Entry

“Bubblegum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bubblegum. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bubble gum

noun
: a chewing gum that can be blown into large bubbles
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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