What does belle mean?
A belle is a beautiful and charming woman, particularly one who stands out as the most admired beauty in a given place or occasion — the guest everyone watches when she enters the room. The word derives from the French adjective meaning "beautiful," and English borrowed it in the seventeenth century to name not just any attractive woman but one whose loveliness has become locally famous. Its most enduring use is figurative: to call someone the "belle of the ball" is to say they are the undisputed center of attention and admiration at a gathering. In American culture, the phrase "Southern belle" evokes a specific historical ideal — the gracious, well-mannered young woman of the antebellum South, immortalized in literature and film. Though somewhat old-fashioned in register, belle remains a warm, flattering term, lending an air of romance and celebration wherever it appears.
nounA beautiful and charming woman, especially one who is the most admired or celebrated beauty in a particular place or social setting.
- A beautiful, charming woman, especially one who is the most admired at an event or in a community.
- (Historical/Southern US) A young woman of the American South regarded as the region's ideal of feminine charm and grace.
"She was the belle of the ball, turning every head as she entered the room."
"Everyone agreed she was the belle of the wedding, radiant in her gown."
"In novels of the antebellum South, the Southern belle was portrayed as graceful, flirtatious, and fiercely protected by her family."
The plural is regular; 'belles' may refer to several beautiful women or be used collectively, as in 'the belles of the county.'
"The garden party was filled with the belles of Charleston society."
"Belle" comes straight from French for "beautiful" — so every time you say someone is a belle, you're speaking a little French without realizing it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of belle
Belle comes from the French adjective belle, the feminine form of beau, meaning "beautiful." Both trace back to Latin bellus, meaning "pretty" or "charming." English adopted the word in the early seventeenth century, applying the French feminine form specifically to beautiful women. It shares this Latin root with words such as embellish, belvedere, and the belletristic tradition of elegant literature.
Related word forms
How belle is actually used
The word carries a somewhat old-fashioned, romantic connotation and is most often used playfully or admiringly. It is frequently used figuratively in phrases like 'the belle of the ball,' where it can describe anything that outshines its surroundings.
Easily confused with belle
Bell is a hollow metal object that rings when struck, while belle refers to a beautiful woman.
Belletristic relates to fine literature studied for aesthetic pleasure, whereas belle is a noun denoting a beautiful woman; both derive from French 'beautiful' but are unrelated in meaning.