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Definition of bayou

bayou

/ˈbaɪ.uː/
bay · ou
Plural:bayous
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bayou Lexical Profile

bayou Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A sluggish, marshy outlet of a lake or river, or a slow-moving body of water in a flat, low-lying area, especially in the Gulf Coast region of the southern United States.

Example

"Spanish moss hung from the cypress trees lining the quiet Louisiana bayou."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for bayou

• Nearby Words

bayes
bayfront
bayonet
bayou
bayside
baza
bazaar

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-18th century from Louisiana French bayou, which derives from the Choctaw word bayuk, meaning 'small stream' or 'creek'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bayou. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bayou
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