Phrase guide

beau geste

noun · 2 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A gracious gesture that is noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a gracious (but usually meaningless) gesture

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: gesture

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French beau geste (literally “beautiful gesture”). */ˌboʊ ˈʒest/

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Icelandic: uppgerðargóðvild — gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance
  • Icelandic: sýndardrengskapur — gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance
  • Icelandic: göfugmannlegt verk — gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance
  • Icelandic: drengskaparbragð — gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance
  • Indonesian: beau geste — gracious gesture, noble in form but often futile or meaningless in substance