busybody

noun

busy·​body ˈbi-zē-ˌbä-dē How to pronounce busybody (audio)
: an officious or inquisitive person

Examples of busybody in a Sentence

The neighborhood busybody is telling everyone that the couple up the street is getting divorced. that busybody across the street is always telling me how to tend to my own garden
Recent Examples on the Web Lei Sean Curtis is a busybody in the most positive sense. Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2024 Sometimes what busybodies really need is to be still. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 1 Aug. 2023 In the second season, the oddball trio of Upper West Siders played by Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez are tasked with figuring out who killed building busybody Bunny (Jayne Houdyshell). Esther Zuckerman, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Aug. 2023 Advertisement Books In Angie Cruz’s portrait of a neighborhood busybody, the soul of a Latino community Sept. 8, 2022 Acevedo spoke to The Times from her home in Washington, D.C., over Zoom about writing for adults, fictional sexuality and the medical emergency that inspired the book. Allison Armijo, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2023 Then this busybody guy stepped forward out of nowhere and shook his head sadly at the large dent on the side of my car. Kerry Slattery, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2023 The German people have been advised by a joy sucking group of foodstuff busybodies to reduce their sausage consumption to a single wurst. David Harsanyi, National Review, 8 June 2023 Just as the name Karen has become associated with an entitled busybody, memes portray Kyles as aggressive young men who like Monster Energy drinks and Axe body spray and who let out their rage by punching drywall. Christine Hauser, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2023 Designer Lauryna Tamošaitytė got tired of running on too few hours of sleep and launched a fun-spirited loungewear line to encourage busybodies to get quality rest. Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'busybody.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of busybody was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near busybody

Cite this Entry

“Busybody.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/busybody. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

busybody

noun
busy·​body ˈbiz-ē-ˌbäd-ē How to pronounce busybody (audio)
: a person who meddles in the affairs of others

More from Merriam-Webster on busybody

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