noun
Common
bi
beye
Bi (noun) means Short for "bisexual"; a person attracted to more than one gender. Example: “She came out as bi to her family last year.”
noun
1
Short for "bisexual"; a person attracted to more than one gender.
"She came out as bi to her family last year."
2
Informal short form of "biceps," the muscle on the front of the upper arm.
"After weeks of curls, his bi looked noticeably bigger."
"The trainer showed us a stretch to loosen the tight bi."
"You cannot train your back without regard to your tris and bis."
"He flexed his bi to show off after the workout."
How to use bi
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual short form of either "bisexual" or "biceps," depending on context.
Common mistake
Context decides the meaning entirely — gym talk means the muscle, dating talk means orientation.
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Word forms
- Plural
- bis
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She came out as _____ to her family last year.
Etymology
A clipped form — "bisexual" shortened to "bi," and separately "biceps" shortened the same way.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “bi” mean?
The word “bi” means short for "bisexual"; a person attracted to more than one gender. In plain terms, a casual short form of either "bisexual" or "biceps," depending on context.
How do you pronounce “bi”?
“Bi” is pronounced beye (/baɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bi” in a sentence?
Here is “bi” used in a sentence: “She came out as bi to her family last year.”
What part of speech is “bi”?
“Bi” is a noun.
Is “bi” a common word?
“Bi” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bi” have?
“Bi” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: short for "bisexual"; a person attracted to more than one gender.
What does bi stand for?
Bi is most commonly short for bisexual, describing a person attracted to more than one gender. In informal gym talk it can also be short for biceps, the muscle on the front of the upper arm.
What is the difference between bi and pan?
Bi is short for bisexual, meaning attracted to more than one gender, while pan is short for pansexual, usually defined as attraction to people regardless of gender. The two labels overlap considerably, and which one a person uses is a matter of personal preference.
Is bi a word on its own or just a prefix?
It is both. As a standalone informal noun, bi is short for bisexual or, in fitness slang, for biceps. As a prefix, bi- means "two," as in bicycle, bilingual, and biweekly.
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