barbie

1 of 3

noun (1)

bar·​bie ˈbär-bē How to pronounce barbie (audio)
1
chiefly Australia : barbecue sense 2
2
chiefly Australia : barbecue sense 3

Barbie

2 of 3

trademark

Bar·​bie ˈbär-bē How to pronounce Barbie (audio)
used for a plastic doll in the figure of a stereotypically attractive young woman

Barbie

3 of 3

noun (2)

variants or Barbie doll
plural Barbies or Barbie dolls
usually disparaging
: a conventionally attractive young woman typically perceived as lacking substance, character, or intelligence
I tell her she's beautiful as she is, but when she peers at television, movies, or popular magazines where generic, blue-eyed, blonde Barbie dolls with orthodontically perfect teeth, Botox, and breast implants prance, pose, and promenade, she says with a sense of fatality and resignation, "I can't look like that."Charles Johnson
It was the 26-year-old's first major role, and she played it with subzero coldness. She couldn't care less how many men Al Pacino's Tony Montana would kill to curry her favor. She's aloof and unattainable, a coke-fed Barbie, the ultimate accessory.Hilary Elkins et al.
Jacquelin Smith, recalling her days as one of Charlie's Angels: "Perhaps they were Barbie dolls with very little depth to them. But I'll say one thing for the show: Trying to add some life to lines like 'Hold it—freeze' certainly does wonders for your acting."People

Examples of barbie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Just like little kids move their barbies from room to room without even thinking about stairs, Robbie’s character strictly uses a slide to get her safely to the ground (or simply just floats down). Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 28 July 2023 Like factories, barbies enter waxy blobs of insecurities and exit hecha completa. Melania Luisa Marte, refinery29.com, 14 June 2023 Has anyone done this yet #Barbie pic.twitter.com/ScoEn8V3J8 — Zoë Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) April 4, 2023 this barbie is crazy!!!! Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2023 Throw another mammoth on the barbie? Mike Corder, oregonlive, 31 Mar. 2023 Perfect with a steak on the barbie. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 11 Nov. 2022 Artists like Saucy Santana, Flo Milli, and J.I.D. kept the crowd warmed up and rocking from just outside the Prudential Center stadium in New Jersey, while the Queen herself, Nicki Minaj, hosted, performed, and accepted awards rocking her signature barbie pink. Rivea Ruff, Essence, 29 Aug. 2022 Or visitors can simply set up camp along the lakefront and enjoy a hearty Christmas meal of lamb, seafood and chicken on the barbie. CNN, 3 Dec. 2022 Because summer falls during Christmastime for Kiwis, a number of their traditions center around a barbie, or grill, where families and friends gather for a casual cookout of fresh seafood, meat, and seasonal vegetables. Caleigh Alleyne, Country Living, 28 Nov. 2022

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

by shortening & alteration

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1976, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of barbie was in 1969

Dictionary Entries Near barbie

Cite this Entry

“Barbie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbie. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Biographical Definition

Barbie

biographical name

Bar·​bie ˈbär-bē How to pronounce Barbie (audio)
Klaus 1913–1991 German Nazi leader

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