Words / A1

DUM-ee/ˈdʌmi/

A dummy is a small rubber object a baby sucks to feel calm — British English. American English says pacifier. Countable: a dummy, dummies. A bottle is for milk; a dummy is not food. Do not use dummy in class to mean a stupid person — that is rude.

Meaning

A small rubber object a baby sucks (British).

Examples

• “The baby wants her dummy.”
• “Where is the baby's dummy?”
• “He will not sleep without his dummy.”

Good to know

British dummy = pacifier. For a baby, not a bottle. Do not use as an insult.

Near in meaning

pacifier

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