ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Wannabe

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈwɒnəbi/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Wannabe is a noun meaning (informal, derogatory) Someone who wishes to be part of, or to assimilate to, a majority group of which they are not a member.

Meaning

(informal, derogatory) Someone who wishes to be part of, or to assimilate to, a majority group of which they are not a member.

More Meanings

  1. (informal, derogatory, often attributive) Someone who wishes to be someone or do something, but lacks the qualifications or talent; an overeager amateur; an aspirant.

Example Sentences

Most of the people Hiro knows are will-bes or wannabes.
Bigger, mongrelly and black, he was clearly a Doberman wannabe.
He had the reputation of a wannabe hardman, riding his cousin's coattails.
Hollywood's restaurants are full of wannabe actors waiting to be discovered.

Word Forms

Synonyms for wannabe

Depending on context, synonyms include tryhard, aspirant, wannabee.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include aspirant, wannabee, yearning, pledge, blower, cadet.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.