barbie

1 of 3

noun (1)

bar·​bie ˈbär-bē 

1

chiefly Australia : barbecue sense 2

2

chiefly Australia : barbecue sense 3

Barbie

2 of 3

trademark

Bar·​bie ˈbär-bē 

—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

Their newest addition went dressed as a shrimp (on the barbie, presumably). —Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024

The most recent career dolls include STEM careers, Congresswomen and athletes, like American fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad. Personally, from a fashion standpoint, the Karl Lagerfeld barbie doll is a standout. —Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

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

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

Biographical Definition

Barbie

biographical name

Bar·​bie ˈbär-bē 

Klaus 1913–1991 German Nazi leader