busybody

[ biz-ee-bod-ee ]

noun

, plural bus·y·bod·ies.

1. a person who pries into or meddles in the affairs of others.

   Synonyms: meddler, blabbermouth, gossip, Nosy Parker, pry, snoop

busybody

/ ˈbɪzɪˌbɒdɪ /

noun

1. a meddlesome, prying, or officious person

Derived Forms

• ˈbusyˌbodying, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of busybody¹

First recorded in 1520–30; busy + body

Example Sentences

Special credit for pushing this insight within the Harris campaign goes to her running-mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who used the word “weird” to describe the tyrannical and busybody policies of Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance.

From Salon

“Somebody once told me that if you live in Los Angeles, you can say something bad about the Dodgers, you can say something bad about the Rams, you can say something bad about the smog, you can even call Mother Teresa a busybody, but if you say something bad about Vin Scully, you will be strapped to the rear bumper of a stretch limo and dragged down the Santa Monica Freeway until dead.”

From Los Angeles Times

Wade and Texas banned abortion, it's created a pretext for every busybody who wants to spend less time grading papers and more time working himself into an angry froth over the imagined sexual exploits of his students.

From Salon

The elderly man neighbors in Azusa knew as “Wick” seemed to some residents to be a busybody, but to others he acted like a guardian, taking note of every suspicious behavior in his street and keeping neighbors informed.

From Los Angeles Times

He sometimes came across as a busybody, she said, but many residents thought he was watching out for the neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times