baddie

noun

bad·​die ˈba-dē 

variants or less commonly baddy

plural baddies

1

informal : a bad person or thing

And that coaching pick. I admit, lots of NBA [=National Basketball Association] people think it's a goodie. Well, I think it's a baddie.

—Tom Kertes

These cells are used to winning—they take down baddies such as viruses and bacteria on a daily basis.

—Daniel Strain

especially : the villain in a story : bad guy

… Darth Maul, the stylishly malevolent baddie whose toys are flying off shelves.

—Newsweek

… a mustachioed baddy fighting a plucky heroine, both of them kicking and whirling …

—Louisa Lim

2

slang : a person (especially a woman) who is confident, stylish, and attractive

felt/looked/dressed like a baddie

If you wear your style with pride, you are a baddie.

—Gerrita Bikker

… every hot baddie stomping down the sidewalk to the beat of her own drum …

—Kristy Puchko

… a great layering piece that also adds … the ultimate baddie vibes to any look.

—Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien

Note: Usage of this sense originated in African American English and has since become widespread.

Did you know?

Slang Meaning of Baddie

Baddie has a slang meaning, referring to someone (usually a woman) who is confident, stylish, and attractive. Learn more >

Synonyms of baddie

• villain
• brute
• monster

Examples of baddie in a Sentence

the actor has never been cast as a hero, but he's played every kind of baddie imaginable

Recent Examples on the Web

Those visuals will go a long way in establishing him as a bona fide baddie. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026

In fact, James Bond did battle with a squad of baddies using the snow ski version in the thriller The World Is Not Enough, and the US military has been experimenting with the concept. — New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026

The teen drama, based on the 1992 movie of the same name, was about the title character battling vampires and other baddies plus high school at the same time. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2026

Here's a little bit more about our champ, her rise to fame and a look back at her romp through the bracket of baddies. — Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

bad entry 1 + -ie

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for baddie

• addy
• caddie
• caddy
• daddy
• gaddi
• laddie
• paddy
• granddaddy