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noun

blimp

BLIHMP

Blimp (noun) means an airship kept in shape by the pressure of the gas inside it, rather than a rigid frame. Example: “The blimp floated slowly over the stadium during the game.”

noun
1
An airship kept in shape by the pressure of the gas inside it, rather than a rigid frame.
"The blimp floated slowly over the stadium during the game."
2
Informal, sometimes unkind, term for an overweight person.
"He joked that he'd turned into a blimp after the holidays."

How to use blimp

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA soft-bodied airship, or informally, a very overweight person.

Common mistake

The "person" sense can be considered rude — use with care.

Common pairings
goodyear blimp float like a blimp

Word forms

blimped past tense, blimps plural, Blimps plural, blimps singular

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Test yourself on “blimp” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ floated slowly over the stadium during the game.

Etymology

Most historians think it's onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of thumping the airship's fabric, first recorded in England around 1916.

· First attested 1916

Class of 1916 blimp joined the language around 1916.
See the full Class of 1916 →
barrage balloon Gossage nonrigid blimp out blimp up

Related words

Rhymes for blimp

See all rhymes for blimp →

Frequently asked questions

What does “blimp” mean?

The word “blimp” means an airship kept in shape by the pressure of the gas inside it, rather than a rigid frame. In plain terms, a soft-bodied airship, or informally, a very overweight person.

How do you pronounce “blimp”?

“Blimp” is pronounced BLIHMP (/ˈblɪmp/ in IPA).

How do you use “blimp” in a sentence?

Here is “blimp” used in a sentence: “The blimp floated slowly over the stadium during the game.”

What is another word for “blimp”?

Words with a similar meaning to “blimp” include barrage balloon, Gossage, nonrigid, blimp out and blimp up.

What part of speech is “blimp”?

“Blimp” is a noun.

Where does the word “blimp” come from?

The word “blimp” dates back to around 1916. Most historians think it's onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of thumping the airship's fabric, first recorded in England around 1916.

How many meanings does “blimp” have?

“Blimp” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an airship kept in shape by the pressure of the gas inside it, rather than a rigid frame.

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