Babylon

noun

Bab·​y·​lon ˈba-bə-ˌlän How to pronounce Babylon (audio) -lən How to pronounce Babylon (audio)
: a city devoted to materialism and sensual pleasure

Examples of Babylon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Period dramas, from Damien Chazelle’s chaotic Babylon to Quentin Tarantino’s wistful Once Upon a Time .. . Judy Berman, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025 Damien Chazelle, who last directed Babylon and has a first-look deal with Paramount, is due to helm the feature. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2025 The projects Jennifer has appeared in include the series Beverly Hills, 90210; Friends and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, as well as in movies like The Evening Star with Shirley MacLaine and Babylon with Brad Pitt. Jen Juneau, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025 The first is lifting ideas and some performers from a campy San Francisco–by–way–of–Vegas theater outfit, Beach Blanket Babylon, known for its breezily low-fi sensibility and enormous architectural headgear, which are amusing in a small venue. Bill Wyman, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Babylon

Word History

Etymology

Babylon, ancient city of Babylonia

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Babylon was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Babylon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Babylon. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Geographical Definition

Babylon

geographical name

Bab·​y·​lon ˈba-bə-lən How to pronounce Babylon (audio)
-ˌlän
ancient city and capital of Babylonia

Note: The site of Babylon is about 55 miles (89 kilometers) south of Baghdad near the Euphrates River.

see also babylonian

More from Merriam-Webster on Babylon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!