English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

noun

BBW

bee-bee-DUB-uhl-yoo

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BBW (noun) means a fat woman, especially when described admiringly or presented as sexually attractive; also used as a category label in pornography and on dating sites. Example: “He said in his profile that he was looking to date a BBW.”

noun

1

informal A fat woman, especially when described admiringly or presented as sexually attractive; also used as a category label in pornography and on dating sites.

"He said in his profile that he was looking to date a BBW."

"The site lets you filter by body type, including BBW."

adjective

1

informal Aimed at or featuring fat women, particularly in adult media, dating services or clothing.

"She modelled for a BBW fashion label."

How to use BBW

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA term for a large woman, usually meant as a compliment.

When to use it

Generally used positively by fat-acceptance and dating communities, but it is still a label about body size, so it is safest used of people who use it about themselves.

Memory tip

BBW describes a woman; the male equivalent is BHM, big handsome man.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

SSBBW BHM

Common pairings

BBW dating BBW model proud BBW

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He said in his profile that he was looking to date a _____.

Etymology

An initialism of big beautiful woman.

Origin: English

Synonyms

plus-size woman curvy woman big beautiful woman

Frequently asked questions

What does BBW stand for?

Big beautiful woman. It is a positive-sounding term for a fat or plus-size woman, used mainly on dating apps and in adult media.

What is the difference between BBW and SSBBW?

SSBBW stands for super-sized big beautiful woman and refers to women considerably larger than those normally labelled BBW. The two are used as rough size bands rather than exact measurements.

Is BBW an insult?

Not usually. Within dating and fat-acceptance communities it is meant as flattery, and many women use it of themselves. It can still land badly if applied to someone who has not chosen the label.

What is the meaning of BBW?

"BBW" (noun) means a fat woman, especially when described admiringly or presented as sexually attractive; also used as a category label in pornography and on dating sites.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial