What does bunny mean?
"Bunny" is an informal, affectionate word for a rabbit, used chiefly by children and in family or playful contexts. Where "rabbit" is neutral and suitable for any register, "bunny" adds warmth and cuteness, making it the natural choice in children's books, pet names, and holiday traditions such as the Easter Bunny. The word can also serve as a term of endearment for people, particularly young children. Beyond the living animal, it has spawned several fixed expressions: the "bunny hop" (a dance and a small jump), the "bunny slope" (an easy ski run for beginners), and the "dust bunny" (a clump of household dust and lint). The word's origins are genuinely obscure — it arose in English around the seventeenth century as a diminutive of "bun," another old word for rabbit, but the ultimate source of "bun" remains uncertain. Its enduring popularity owes much to its soft sounds and gentle connotations, which have made it one of the most recognizable animal terms in English-speaking cultures.
nounA child's word or affectionate term for a rabbit. Also used as a term of endearment for a person.
- An informal or childish word for a rabbit.
- A term of endearment for a person, especially a child or sweetheart.
"The children were delighted to find a fluffy bunny in the garden on Easter morning."
"She keeps two pet bunnies named Clover and Thistle."
"'Goodnight, my little bunny,' she whispered as she tucked him in."
Standard plural formed by changing -y to -ies after the consonant y.
"Several bunnies were spotted hopping across the meadow at dawn."
Despite being one of the most beloved animal words in English, no one knows for certain where 'bunny' actually comes from.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bunny
"Bunny" first appeared in English in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century, originally spelled "bunny" or "bonny" as a diminutive of the older word "bun," which had long been used for both rabbits and squirrels. The ultimate origin of "bun" is unknown; suggestions have included dialect words meaning a slight shake or a tail, but none has been established with confidence, so honest dictionaries mark the etymology as obscure. What is clear is that "bunny" began as a nursery or pet form and gradually became the standard affectionate name for rabbits throughout the English-speaking world.
How bunny is actually used
Register is informal and affectionate; 'bunny' would sound out of place in formal scientific writing about lagomorphs, where 'rabbit' is preferred. It carries warm, child-friendly connotations and appears frequently in children's literature and Easter traditions.
Easily confused with bunny
Hares are larger than rabbits, are born fully furred with open eyes, and live above ground rather than in burrows.