noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌbɑːbifɪˈkeɪʃən/
Received-Pronunciation:/-bɪ-/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˌbɑɹbifɪˈkeɪʃən/
General-American:/-bɪ/
rhymes with -eɪʃən
1
noun
Meaning 1
A cultural move toward superficiality and a focus on physical attractiveness at the expense of depth and intellect.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Barbie (“tall, slender female fashion doll”) + -fication (suffix denoting the process of becoming something).
Across languages
Translations
2 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
pinnallistuminen
— cultural move towards superficiality and a focus on physical attractiveness
Macedonian:
по́вршност
(póvršnost)
— cultural move towards superficiality and a focus on physical attractiveness