beau

noun

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

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.
Over the years, Kelce and Swift have supported one another at concerts and football games, with the hitmaker even being present when her beau won a Super Bowl ring in February 2024. Michael Nied, InStyle, 4 July 2026 Page Six also caught Swift besties Ashley Avignone and Gigi Hadid, as well as Hadid's beau, Bradley Cooper, en route from the model's Manhattan apartment. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 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 Lots to unpack in the two-minute clop from Heidi Engerman’s appearance as Yancy Gray’s (Jack Schumacher) wife, Syd, to Quinn’s (Minka Kelly) new beau Oliver (Ben Robson) and her mother’s (Patricia Clarkson) unexpected arrival in town. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 25 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

Cite this Entry

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

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster