Word
dad bod
Phoneticsdad·bod
Definition
compound. a body type for men that is slightly overweight but still looks healthy. It is often used to describe a man who used to be fit but now has a small belly.
compound. a male physique characterized by a soft, slightly overweight appearance, typically associated with middle-aged fathers who have ceased a rigorous fitness regimen. Informal in register; often used in a lighthearted or body-positive context.
Examples
“He joked that his new dad bod was a sign of a happy life.”
“After the actor stopped training for his superhero role, the tabloids were quick to comment on his emerging dad bod.”
“The cultural shift toward embracing the dad bod suggests a growing acceptance of realistic male body standards over the hyper-muscular ideals often seen in mainstream media.”
Examples
simple
“He joked that his new dad bod was a sign of a happy life.”
contextual
“After the actor stopped training for his superhero role, the tabloids were quick to comment on his emerging dad bod.”
complex
“The cultural shift toward embracing the dad bod suggests a growing acceptance of realistic male body standards over the hyper-muscular ideals often seen in mainstream media.”
Usage
Typically used in singular form with an indefinite article ('a dad bod').
Real-World Examples
“While average guys may yearn for representation, the moment Chris Pratt transformed his relatable physique into a heroic form, the argument for the so-called “Dad Bod” was rendered irrelevant.” “The Internet has burned this month with commentary about women’s alleged new interest in the soft, doughy “dad bod.” “If you, like myself, possess a dad bod and seek respite from the heat, filmmakers convey a reassuring message: You are not alone.” “What's in is something, well, a bit more cuddly - the dad bod, external.” Etymology
From dad + bod.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.