Babel

noun

Ba·​bel ˈbā-bəl  ˈba- 

1

: a city in Shinar where the building of a tower is held in Genesis to have been halted by the confusion of tongues

2

or babel

a

: a confusion of sounds or voices

b

: a scene of noise or confusion

Did you know?

The story of the Tower of Babel comes from the Bible, specifically, Genesis 11:4-9. It describes an attempt by Noah's descendants to build a giant tower that would reach to heaven. God interrupted the project, however, by causing the builders to begin speaking different languages. Construction of the tower ceased, and the people were dispersed over the Earth. The account of the Tower of Babel, which may have been inspired by an actual tower in Babylonia, is generally read as an attempt to explain the diversity of languages. The story has also given English a word for any situation that calls to mind the noisy chaos that would surely have ensued as the workers first tried to communicate using different languages.

Synonyms of Babel

• bedlam
• madhouse
• circus

Examples of Babel in a Sentence

on opening day the area's newest big-box store was an incredible babel

the babel of wheeling and dealing that can be heard at the stock exchange every day

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Hebrew Bābhel, from Akkadian bāb-ilu gate of god

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Babel

• tower of Babel

Rhymes for Babel

• babble
• dabble
• drabble
• gabble
• nabal
• rabble
• scrabble
• immeasurable

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Kids Definition

babel

noun

ba·​bel

ˈbā-bəl, 

ˈbab-əl

often capitalized

1

: a confusion of sounds or voices

2

: a scene of noise or confusion

Etymology

from the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:4–9, the building of which was interrupted by a confusion of languages