boss

¹ American  

[baws, bos] / bɔs, bɒs /

noun

1. a person who employs or superintends workers; manager.

   Synonyms:

   overseer, administrator, superintendent, chief, foreman, head, supervisor

2. a politician who controls the party organization, as in a particular district.

3. a person who makes decisions, exercises authority, dominates, etc..

   My grandfather was the boss in his family.

4. (in a video game or role-playing game) a powerful nonplayer character, often appearing at the end of a level or at the end of the game, who must be defeated in order for a player to move on to a new level or to win the game (often used attributively): Your objective for this boss-level event is to survive several waves of zombie attacks.

   Is there a trick to beating the final boss?

   Your objective for this boss-level event is to survive several waves of zombie attacks.

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verb (used with object)

1. to be master of or over; manage; direct; control.

2. to order about, especially in an arrogant manner.

verb (used without object)

1. to be boss.

2. to be too domineering and authoritative.

adjective

1. chief; master.

2. Slang. first-rate.

boss ² American  

[baws, bos] / bɔs, bɒs /

noun

1. Botany, Zoology. a protuberance or roundish excrescence on the body or on some organ of an animal or plant.

2. Geology. a knoblike mass of rock, especially an outcrop of igneous or metamorphic rock.

3. an ornamental protuberance of metal, ivory, etc.; stud.

4. Architecture.

   1. an ornamental, knoblike projection, as a carved keystone at the intersection of ogives.

   2. a stone roughly formed and set in place for later carving.

5. Bookbinding. one of several pieces of brass or other metal inset into the cover of a book to protect the corners or edges or for decoration.

6. Machinery. a small projection on a casting or forging.

7. Nautical. a projecting part in a ship's hull, or in one frame of a hull, fitting around a propeller shaft.

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verb (used with object)

1. to ornament with bosses.

2. to emboss.

3. (in plumbing) to hammer (sheet metal, as lead) to conform to an irregular surface.

boss ³ American  

[bos, baws] / bɒs, bɔs /

noun

1. a familiar name for a calf or cow.

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boss ⁴ American  

[bos] / bɒs /

adjective

Scot.

1. hollow; empty.

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boss ¹ British  

/ bɒs /

noun

1. a knob, stud, or other circular rounded protuberance, esp an ornamental one on a vault, a ceiling, or a shield

2. biology any of various protuberances or swellings in plants and animals

3. 1. an area of increased thickness, usually cylindrical, that strengthens or provides room for a locating device on a shaft, hub of a wheel, etc

   2. a similar projection around a hole in a casting or fabricated component

4. an exposed rounded mass of igneous or metamorphic rock, esp the uppermost part of an underlying batholith

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verb

1. to ornament with bosses; emboss

boss ² British  

/ bɒs /

noun

1. a person in charge of or employing others

2. a professional politician who controls a party machine or political organization, often using devious or illegal methods

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verb

1. to employ, supervise, or be in charge of

2. to be domineering or overbearing towards (others)

adjective

1. slang excellent; fine

   a boss hand at carpentry

   that's boss!

BOSS ³ British  

/ bɒs /

acronym

1. Bureau of State Security; a branch of the South African security police

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boss ⁴ British  

/ bɒs /

noun

1. a calf or cow

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Etymology

Origin of boss¹

An Americanism dating from 1640–50; from Dutch baas “master, foreman”

Origin of boss²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English boce, from Anglo-French: “lump, growth, boil”; Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin bottia, of uncertain origin

Origin of boss³

An Americanism first recorded in 1790–1800; compare dialectal (southwest England) borse, boss, buss “six-month-old calf”

Origin of boss⁴

First recorded in 1505–15; of obscure origin

Explanation

A boss is an authority figure, often the person who tells you what to do at work. If you work as a waiter, your boss might be the restaurant manager. A boss at a job might hire you, give you feedback on your work, or tell you what your responsibilities are. If someone is in charge of a group, you could describe that person as a boss as well: "She's the boss of the French club — she tells everyone what to do." To boss someone is to do just this, order them around. Boss comes from a Dutch root, baas, "master."

Example Sentences

The most successful vice presidents are those who understand this basic rule: Their fate is tied to that of their boss.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Feinberg, a former private-equity boss, uses a “carrot-and-stick” approach with defense contractors to accelerate production.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

After the 1-1 draw, the Real boss noted the Frenchman "feels very comfortable as a defensive midfielder".

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

The UK boss of Palantir has defended the company over calls for more scrutiny of its use of data within NHS contracts.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

It was Mush who was the real boss, though.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

Related Words

• administrator
• chief
• chieftain
• director
• employer
• executive
• leader
• owner
• supervisor