# belle

/ˈbɛɫ/ (US) · /bˈɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/belle
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a beautiful woman

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a very attractive woman, especially the most beautiful one at a social event.

For teachers: a beautiful woman, frequently used in the context of a social gathering to identify the most popular or attractive female guest.

- She was the belle of the ball in her stunning red dress.
- As the belle of the evening, she found herself constantly surrounded by admirers eager for a moment of her attention.

Usage: Commonly appears in the fixed idiom 'belle of the ball'.

Teaching tip: This term is largely dated or literary; in modern conversation, it is almost exclusively used within the phrase 'belle of the ball'.

## Examples

- She was the belle of the ball in her red dress.
- As the guest of honor, she was the undisputed belle of the evening, drawing everyone's attention.
- In nineteenth-century literature, the protagonist is often depicted as a local belle whose social standing is elevated by her remarkable grace and physical beauty.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.