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

Not only has Rey just lost her Jedi master, Luke Skywalker, but Luke’s lightsaber was damaged in a battle with First Order baddie Kylo Ren (aka Leia's son). — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 July 2026

The trio go toe-to-toe against a whole host of baddies, most notably the nefarious monkey Mojo Jojo. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026

And equally as a child, loving things like The NeverEnding Story or The Dark Crystal — Jim Henson and puppetry and wanting to be either a princess or a baddie. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2026

Often in these cases the focus is on the opposition’s best player, but aliens cannot be cartoon baddies, so that rules out Lionel Messi. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 14 July 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