beaut: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Colloquial, Slang
Quick answer
What does “beaut” mean?
Something or someone extremely beautiful, excellent, or impressive.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Something or someone extremely beautiful, excellent, or impressive.
Used ironically or humorously to describe something notably clumsy, messy, or problematic (as in 'a real beaut of a mistake').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in Australian and New Zealand English. In UK and US English, it is understood but less frequently used.
Connotations
In UK/US, often feels dated or deliberately folksy. In AU/NZ, it is a standard, positive informal term.
Frequency
Highest frequency in Australian English. Low frequency in contemporary UK and US English, where it may sound like an affectation.
Grammar
How to Use “beaut” in a Sentence
That [noun] is a real beaut.You've got yourself a beaut of a [problem/situation/car].What a beaut!Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beaut” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- *Verb use is archaic/obsolete and not recommended.
American English
- *Verb use is archaic/obsolete and not recommended.
adverb
British English
- *Adverb use does not exist.
American English
- *Adverb use does not exist.
adjective
British English
- *Adjective use is rare and dialectal (e.g., 'a beaut day'). Considered non-standard.
American English
- *Adjective use is rare and considered non-standard.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used in formal business contexts.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used in informal speech, often with a touch of humour or irony among friends.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beaut”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it as a verb (*'to beaut something' is incorrect).
- Overusing it outside of Australia/NZ where it can sound unnatural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a recognized informal slang word, but it is not used in standard formal English.
No, the verb form is obsolete. The modern word 'beautify' is used instead.
Yes, especially in phrases like 'a beaut of a problem'. The meaning is entirely dependent on context and tone.
For learners outside Australia/New Zealand, it's more important to understand it than to actively use it, as it can sound affected or dated.
Something or someone extremely beautiful, excellent, or impressive.
Beaut is usually informal, colloquial, slang in register.
Beaut: in British English it is pronounced /bjuːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /bjuːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “You beaut! (Aus/NZ excl. of approval)”
- “a real beaut (used for both positive and ironic negative)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a truncated 'BEAUTy' — it's the short, punchy, slang version of the word.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUALITY IS BEAUTY / PROBLEMS ARE NOTABLE SPECIMENS (via irony).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'beaut' most commonly and neutrally used as a positive term?