beauty

noun

beau·​ty ˈbyü-tē How to pronounce beauty (audio)
plural beauties
1
: the quality or group of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or the mind : loveliness
exploring the natural beauty of the island
A thing of beauty is a joy forever …John Keats
Buddhism has taught me that inner beauty, the beauty that comes from loving and accepting yourself, imperfections and all, radiates to the outside.Tina Turner, quoted at nbcnews.com
often, specifically : the quality of being physically attractive
… she relies on a minimalist makeup routine to enhance her natural beauty. Kiana Murden
… knows how to move, which is surprising given his muscled bulk, and is at ease with his beauty. Manohla Dargis
often used before another noun
beauty products
the beauty industry
my morning beauty routine
Our culture's beauty standards and stereotypes are not going to disappear overnight, but we have made some progress. Allie Bloom
2
a
: a person (especially a woman) who is beautiful
The brunette beauty added a pair of … sky-high platform heels … to complete her camera-ready look.Isabelle Casey
b
: something that is beautiful or excellent
That's a beauty of a car.
went fishing and caught a couple of beauties
Our favorite apple tree … is a real beauty. Standing over 20 feet tall, it produces buckets and buckets of apples.Steve McBride
often used ironically
That mistake was a beauty!
3
: an excellent or appealing quality
"… If you hate it—just paint over it. That's the beauty of working with paint."Annie Sloan, quoted at theguardian.com (London)
One of the beauties of cast iron cookware is that it can be used almost anywhere.Lily Alig
4
physics : bottom sense 9

Examples of beauty in a Sentence

We explored the natural beauty of the island. I'm learning to appreciate the beauty of poetry. We explored the natural beauties of the island. She was one of the great beauties of her time.
Recent Examples on the Web Williams remembers winning his first Academy Award, in 1972, mostly because of the classic beauty who handed it to him. Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 The natural beauty of the area is remarkable, with scenic spots like Thomas Jefferson’s Rock, a section of the Appalachian Trail, and trails winding through the National Historical Park drawing outdoor enthusiasts. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Eau de colognes and eau de toilettes are designed for the beauty of a moment. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 Beyond its natural beauty, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to southern Appalachian culture and around 1,500 American black bears (that’s approximately two bears per square mile.). Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 How to Make Smoothies from Your Favorite Fresh Ingredients 07 of 15 DIY Mojito View Recipe The beauty of this lime-green mojito? Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024 By the dawn of the nineties, the culture had only doubled down on the worship of wealth, beauty, and glamour that dominated the eighties. Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 To be sure, the theory of lipstick sales and economic health being inversely proportional can be hard to break down in the broader beauty category. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 5 Mar. 2024 She’s also appeared in other fashion and beauty editorials. Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beauty.' 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

Middle English beaute, bealte, borrowed from Anglo-French, from bel, beau "beautiful, good-looking" (going back to Latin bellus) + -te -ty — more at beau

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beauty was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near beauty

Cite this Entry

“Beauty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beauty. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

beauty

noun
beau·​ty ˈbyüt-ē How to pronounce beauty (audio)
plural beauties
1
: the qualities of a person or a thing that give pleasure to the senses
2
: a lovely person or thing
especially : a lovely woman
3
: an outstanding example
that's a beauty of a black eye
Etymology

Middle English beaute "beauty," derived from early French bel "beautiful," from Latin bellus "pretty" — related to beau, belle

More from Merriam-Webster on beauty

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