babbitted
|bab-bit-ted|
/ˈbæbɪt/
(babbitt)
materialistic, conformist middle-class person
Etymology
'babbitt' originates from the surname 'Babbitt' (English/American), specifically associated with Isaac Babbitt (1799–1862), an American inventor who created the white metal alloy known as 'Babbitt metal' used for bearings.
'Babbitt' first referred to the surname of Isaac Babbitt, then the metal he developed; from the noun for the metal and the bearing treatment the verb 'to babbitt' was formed, and separately the 1922 novel 'Babbitt' by Sinclair Lewis popularized 'Babbitt' as a label for a conformist person, which led to verbal/adjectival uses such as 'babbitted'.
Initially, the word referred to a person's name and the metal he created; over time it acquired technical meaning ('to coat with Babbitt metal') and a social sense ('to act like a Babbitt' = conformist), both of which survive in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past tense or past participle form of 'babbitt' meaning 'to coat or line (a bearing) with Babbitt metal (a soft white bearing alloy)'.
The mechanic had several worn bearings babbitted to ensure a smooth rotation.
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Verb 2
past tense or past participle form of 'babbitt' meaning 'to act or behave like a Babbitt' — i.e., to conform unquestioningly to middle‑class materialism and conventionality (derived from Sinclair Lewis's novel 'Babbitt').
After the corporate restructuring, many employees felt babbitted and stopped voicing new ideas.
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Last updated: 2025/12/22 23:22