(US, _, military slang, WWI) An officer owing his position to the need of the time rather than competence.
(US, _, military slang, WWI) An officer owing his position to the need of the time rather than competence.
"war baby" means an officer owing his position to the need of the time rather than competence. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
"war baby" means an officer owing his position to the need of the time rather than competence. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Add your own interpretation of "war baby".
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
Browse all slang words starting with W.
"war baby" is informal English meaning an officer owing his position to the need of the time rather than competence. It is mainly used in North American English. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "an officer owing his position to the need of the time rather than competence" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "war baby" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing.
“UK singles chart with his solo single "War Baby".”
No comments yet — say something.
(slang) The youngest son in a family.