bunny

bunny — noun

1. an affectionate name for a rabbit, often said to young children or about a small

1.nounA2
Definition

an affectionate name for a rabbit, often said to young children or about a small rabbit.

Example

At the farm, Bao fed a sleepy bunny with carrot leaves.

child word for a rabbit

Look, a tiny bunny is hiding under the garden bench!

Common collocations
  • little bunny
  • pet bunny
  • white bunny
  • baby bunny
Synonyms
  • rabbit

    the neutral everyday word; 'bunny' sounds more child-friendly or affectionate

  • bunny rabbit

    an even more playful children's form, often used with very young children

Usage Note

Common in speech with children and in affectionate talk about pets. In neutral writing, science, or formal description, people usually choose 'rabbit' instead.

Common Mistakes

We studied bunnies in biology class.
We studied rabbits in biology class.
'bunny' sounds childish or affectionate, so neutral contexts usually use 'rabbit'.

2. someone, often young and seen as attractive, who is strongly linked with one act

2.nounB2
Definition

someone, often young and seen as attractive, who is strongly linked with one activity or social scene, as in gym bunny or beach bunny.

Example

After two months at the club, Aiko became a real gym bunny.

compound pattern: gym bunny

Every July, the hotel fills with beach bunnies from Taipei.

plural compound: beach bunnies

Common collocations
  • gym bunny
  • beach bunny
  • ski bunny
  • party bunny
Synonyms
  • fan

    simpler and more general; it does not suggest the playful image that 'bunny' can carry

  • enthusiast

    more formal and not usually used for appearance or scene

  • lover

    common in compounds such as 'music lover', but less playful and less image-based

Grammar Patterns

[activity/place] + bunny

Usage Note

Usually appears after a noun naming the activity or scene. Distinguish from sense 3, which more often follows a describing word such as 'lucky' or 'silly'.

Common Mistakes

Nadia is a bunny about yoga.
Nadia is a yoga bunny.
this sense normally forms a compound with the activity before 'bunny'.

3. someone described in a playful way as having a certain quality, especially after

3.nounB2
Definition

someone described in a playful way as having a certain quality, especially after another word such as lucky or silly.

Example

You lucky bunny, you found cash in your old coat.

adjective + bunny

After the prize draw, Mira was the happy bunny in class.

Common collocations
  • lucky bunny
  • happy bunny
  • poor bunny
  • clever bunny
Synonyms
  • type

    neutral and broad; it lacks the playful tone of 'bunny'

  • sort

    similar in meaning, but less personal and less lively

  • character

    can suggest a noticeable or amusing person, though it is not used in the same compound pattern

Grammar Patterns

[describing word] + bunny

Usage Note

Usually follows an adjective or another describing word. Distinguish from sense 2, where the first word names an activity or place instead of a personal quality.

Common Mistakes

Ken is bunny because he always wins.
Ken is a lucky bunny because he always wins.
this sense normally needs a describing word before 'bunny'.
Idioms

not a happy bunny

idiom

Someone who is not happy or satisfied with something.

Maya was not a happy bunny when her flight got delayed.

Why is Diego not a happy bunny today?

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For this sense, 'rabbit' is the normal neutral word and works in everyday talk, school books, and science writing. 'Bunny' is softer and more affectionate, so adults often use it with children, pets, toys, or story characters. 'Bunny rabbit' is even more child-focused and can sound extra playful. 'Hare' is not just a style choice: it names a different animal with longer ears and legs, so it should not replace 'rabbit' or 'bunny'. Compare: 'The children fed a bunny at the farm' sounds warm and child-friendly, while 'The book explains how a rabbit lives' sounds neutral and factual.

rabbit ↗bunny ↗bunny rabbithare ↗

Etymology

English

Bunny probably grew from bun, an older informal English word for a rabbit, with the ending -y, which often makes a word sound small or affectionate. It first named the animal itself and later spread to playful labels for certain kinds of people.