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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Jemma is a confident woman who has an air of big city and is the town’s busybody. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 17 July 2025 Of course, his message doesn't get across to everybody, and plenty see Klaatu as an interstellar busybody. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 3 June 2025 The first week of June feels restless, as busybody Mars rouses chatty Mercury on June 5. Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 27 May 2025 Research on nearly 500,000 Wikipedia users reveals three rabbit hole types: hunters, busybodies and dancers. Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for busybody

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of busybody was in 1526

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Busybody.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/busybody. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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