Babbitt - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Definition:
A self-satisfied, conventional person who conforms unthinkingly to middle-class values.
Synonyms:
conformist, philistine, bourgeois
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
nonconformist, individualist
Common Collocations:
Babbitt mentality, Babbitt society, Babbitt-like behavior
Derivatives:
Babbittry, Babbittish
Usage Tips:
Use "Babbitt" to describe someone overly concerned with material success and social conformity.
Common Phrases:
Babbitt mentality, like a Babbitt, Babbitt's world
Etymology:
Derived from Sinclair Lewis's 1922 novel "Babbitt," depicting a stereotypical middle-class businessman.
Examples:
- 1. He was a typical Babbitt, obsessed with status and appearances.
- 2. The town was full of Babbitts who resisted any change.
- 3. Her Babbitt-like attitude made her unpopular among artists.
- 4. The novel critiques the Babbitts of American society.