boob job: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-highInformal, colloquial; often considered slang. Not used in formal medical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “boob job” mean?
A surgical operation to change the size or shape of a woman's breasts, primarily through augmentation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surgical operation to change the size or shape of a woman's breasts, primarily through augmentation.
Informal, sometimes jocular, term for any form of cosmetic breast surgery, including augmentation, reduction, or lift. Can be used metaphorically for other superficial or artificial enhancements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood and used in both varieties. Slightly more prevalent in UK tabloids/media. The word 'boob' is slightly less childish in UK English than in US English.
Connotations
Both varieties share the informal, sometimes trivializing connotation. Can be perceived as objectifying or disrespectful in careful usage.
Frequency
Comparatively frequent in both, especially in gossip, lifestyle, and celebrity media.
Grammar
How to Use “boob job” in a Sentence
[Subject] get/have/want a boob job.The [celebrity]'s boob job is obvious.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “boob job” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She's planning to get boob-jobbed next year.
- He joked that she'd been boob-jobbed.
American English
- She's thinking about getting boob-jobbed after the holidays.
- Everyone could tell she'd been boob-jobbed.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- She had that obvious boob-job look.
- It was a classic boob-job disaster.
American English
- She had that telltale boob-job appearance.
- He paid for her boob-job procedure.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the beauty/cosmetic surgery industry marketing, but often euphemized as 'breast enhancement'.
Academic
Avoided; replaced with clinical terms like 'augmentation mammoplasty'.
Everyday
Common in informal conversations, tabloids, and lifestyle discussions.
Technical
Not used; the precise medical terminology is required.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “boob job”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “boob job”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “boob job”
- Using it in formal writing or a medical consultation.
- Spelling as 'boobjob' (sometimes accepted but usually two words).
- Applying it to non-cosmetic breast surgery (e.g., mastectomy).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and can be considered disrespectful or objectifying, especially in serious contexts. It's best used cautiously.
Augmentation mammoplasty or breast augmentation surgery.
The term is almost exclusively used for women's cosmetic surgery. Surgery on male breasts (gynecomastia correction) is not typically called a 'boob job'.
It is most commonly written as two separate words: 'boob job'. The hyphenated form 'boob-job' is sometimes seen, especially when used as a modifier (e.g., boob-job surgery).
A surgical operation to change the size or shape of a woman's breasts, primarily through augmentation.
Boob job: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbuːb ˌdʒɒb/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbub ˌdʒɑːb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A boob job and a new hairdo (used to signify a stereotypical post-breakup transformation).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'boob' (slang for breast) + 'job' (a piece of work). It's a 'job' done on the 'boobs'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A PROJECT (to be worked on/improved). SURGERY IS A TASK/JOB.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'boob job' be LEAST appropriate?