bossy

¹

[ baw-see, bos-ee ]

adjective

, boss·i·er, boss·i·est.

1. given to ordering people about; overly authoritative; domineering.

   Synonyms: abrasive, overbearing, dictatorial, officious, high-handed

bossy

²

[ baw-see, bos-ee ]

adjective

, boss·i·er, boss·i·est.

1. studded with knoblike or projecting parts.

bossy

³

[ bos-ee, baw-see ]

noun

, plural bos·sies.

1. a familiar name for a cow or calf.

bossy

¹

/ ˈbɒsɪ /

adjective

1. informal.
   domineering, overbearing, or authoritarian

bossy

²

/ ˈbɒsɪ /

adjective

1. (of furniture) ornamented with bosses

Derived Forms

• ˈbossiness, noun
• ˈbossily, adverb

Other Words From

• bossi·ly adverb
• bossi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bossy¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; boss ¹ + -y ¹

Origin of bossy²

First recorded in 1535–45; boss ² + -y ¹

Origin of bossy³

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; boss ³ + -y ²

Example Sentences

Some of these characters are bossy while remaining ambitious or what could even be considered cutthroat.

From Salon

With key regional elections across eastern Germany in September, there are bound to be more stories about bossy Greens supposedly banning well-loved German traditions.

From BBC

“No need to get bossy. We won’t walk on your path.”

From Literature

Posing as a bossy superior, he got another to explain the most minute details of the attempted assassination in a phone call recorded and posted to YouTube.

From BBC

"So it was hard for me coming out of it and watching that episode. I was like: 'Wow, am I really that bossy?'"

From BBC

Related Words

• imperious
• overbearing
• pushy