# boob

/ˈbub/ (US) · /bˈuːb/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a breast

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang · Vulgar

a slang word for a woman's breast.

For teachers: a slang term for the female breast. Informal and often considered vulgar in professional contexts.

- She felt uncomfortable when the men at the bar made a joke about her boobs.
- The tabloid was criticised for its focus on the actress's physical appearance, specifically for publishing invasive photos of her boobs while she was on holiday.

Teaching tip: While common in casual speech among friends, this term is vulgar and should be avoided in any formal, academic, or professional setting.

### 2. a mistake

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

a silly or embarrassing mistake.

For teachers: an informal term for a blunder or error. Primarily used in British English.

- I made a bit of a boob by sending the email to the wrong person.
- The presenter made a massive boob during the live broadcast by mispronouncing the prime minister's name.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'to make a boob'.

### 3. a foolish person

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Informal · Archaic

a person who is silly or not very smart.

For teachers: a person regarded as stupid or foolish. This sense is somewhat dated in modern American English.

- Don't be such a boob; everyone knows that's not how the machine works.
- The protagonist was portrayed as a well-meaning boob who constantly stumbled into success despite his lack of intelligence.

### 4. to make a mistake

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

to make a silly error.

For teachers: to commit a blunder or mistake. Intransitive use, primarily British.

- The goalkeeper really boobed when he let that easy ball roll into the net.
- The administration admitted they had boobed significantly regarding the new tax policy implementation.

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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.