noun
Common
benedict
BEH-nuh-dihkt
Benedict (noun) means a man who has recently married, especially one who was long seen as a confirmed bachelor. Example: “Friends teased the new benedict about trading his freedom for a mortgage.”
noun
1
A man who has recently married, especially one who was long seen as a confirmed bachelor.
"Friends teased the new benedict about trading his freedom for a mortgage."
"A quarter of a mile inland we came upon the holluschickie -- sleek young bulls, living out the loneliness of their bachelorhood and gathering strength against the day when they would fight their way into the ranks of the benedicts"
— Jack London (1904)
"The newly married benedict surprised everyone by staying in on Saturday nights."
"Once a proud bachelor, the happy benedict now talks only about his wife."
2
Short for eggs Benedict, a breakfast dish of poached eggs, ham or bacon, and hollandaise sauce on an English muffin.
"He ordered a benedict and orange juice for brunch."
"The cafe serves a delicious benedict with extra sauce on Sundays."
"She ordered a benedict, but asked for spinach instead of ham."
How to use benedict
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a newly married former bachelor, or the eggs-and-hollandaise brunch dish.
Common mistake
The bachelor-turned-groom sense is dated and rarely used in everyday speech; most people today only meet this word on a brunch menu.
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Word forms
- Plural
- benedicts
- Third person singular
- benedicts
- Past tense
- benedicted
- Comparative
- more benedict
- Superlative
- most benedict
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Friends teased the new _____ about trading his freedom for a mortgage.
Etymology
The bachelor sense comes from Benedick, a witty confirmed bachelor in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, who ends up marrying anyway. The name itself traces to Latin Benedictus, "blessed."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for benedict
See all rhymes for benedict →Frequently asked questions
What does “benedict” mean?
The word “benedict” means a man who has recently married, especially one who was long seen as a confirmed bachelor. In plain terms, either a newly married former bachelor, or the eggs-and-hollandaise brunch dish.
How do you pronounce “benedict”?
“Benedict” is pronounced BEH-nuh-dihkt (/ˈbɛnədɪkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “benedict” in a sentence?
Here is “benedict” used in a sentence: “Friends teased the new benedict about trading his freedom for a mortgage.”
What part of speech is “benedict”?
“Benedict” is a noun.
Where does the word “benedict” come from?
The word “benedict” comes from Latin. The bachelor sense comes from Benedick, a witty confirmed bachelor in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, who ends up marrying anyway. The name itself traces to Latin Benedictus, "blessed.".
Is “benedict” a common word?
“Benedict” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “benedict” have?
“Benedict” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a man who has recently married, especially one who was long seen as a confirmed bachelor.
What is the difference between "benedict" and "bachelor"?
A "bachelor" is simply an unmarried man, while a "benedict" specifically refers to a man who has recently married, especially one previously seen as a confirmed, long-term bachelor. The term highlights the transition from bachelorhood to marriage rather than marital status alone.
What is "eggs Benedict"?
Eggs Benedict is a breakfast dish made of poached eggs, ham or bacon, and hollandaise sauce served on an English muffin. "Benedict" is sometimes used alone as a short form of "eggs Benedict" on menus.
Is "benedict" a commonly used word today?
The sense meaning a recently married man is quite rare and old-fashioned in modern English, largely surviving in literary or historical contexts. The food-related meaning, as a short form of "eggs Benedict," remains in everyday, common use.
