Phrase guide

budgie smugglers

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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1

noun

Meaning 1

A style of tightfitting men's swimming costume cut like underwear briefs that covers the buttocks and groin but not the legs and reveals the bulge of the genitals; especially worn in surf lifesaving and in swimming races.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, New-Zealand, UK, informal, plural, plural-only

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: banana hammock, bikini, budgie smugglers, cock jocks, competition briefs, dick pointers, dick togs, nut huggers, posing briefs, sluggos, racer bathers, racing briefs, Speedo, Speedos, swim briefs, swimming briefs, thong

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

plural of budgie smuggler (“small bag attached to the belt”)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, plural

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A jocular reference to a man's tight-fitting swimming costume or swimsuit appearing as if he has a budgerigar concealed inside it, i.e. his bulging genitals.