Phrase guide

five o'clock shadow

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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1

noun

Meaning 1

A dark appearance on a man's chin and face caused by the slight growth of beard that has occurred since he shaved in the morning.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, informal, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

First use appears c. 1942, US, advertising copy written by Jules B. Singer of the Federal Advertising Agency for the Gem brand of safety razors, made by the American Safety Razor Company.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: stoppelbaard — stubble beard
  • French: barbe de trois jours — stubble beard
  • German: Stoppelbart — stubble beard
  • Hungarian: délutáni borosta — stubble beard
  • Japanese: 無精髭 (bushōhige) — stubble beard
  • Norwegian: tre-dagers — stubble beard
  • Russian: щетина (ščetina) — stubble beard
  • Spanish: barba de días — stubble beard
  • Spanish: barba incipiente — stubble beard