What does "biddy" mean?
A woman, especially an old woman; especially one regarded as fussy or mean or a gossipy busybody.
Biddy
/ˈbɪdi/ adj, name, noun, slang
adj, name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A woman, especially an old woman; especially one regarded as fussy or mean or a gossipy busybody.
- Grammar: biddy is listed as adj, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: chick, abigail, amah, au pair girl.
- Useful contrasts: adult chicken, adult man, boy.
- Usage evidence: Tom queued behind an old biddy with a full trolley.
How to use "biddy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "biddy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "biddy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "biddy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "biddy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "biddy" is acting as adj, name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "chick" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "biddy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A woman, especially an old woman; especially one regarded as fussy or mean or a gossipy busybody. derogatory
"1970-1975, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure That Mich drag Loretta sent me about 10 pictures of her so I wouldn't think her a "decrepit old lady." But too bad—she looked like someone's biddy aunt."
- 2 Breasts. Internet, in-plural
"It ain't like you ain't never seen these tig ole biddies before."
- 3 young bird especially of domestic fowl wordnet
- 4 An attractive girl. uncommon
- 5 adult female chicken wordnet
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 An Irish maidservant. archaic, colloquial
- 7 An Irishwoman. broadly, derogatory
- 8 A name used in calling a hen or chicken, often as "biddy-biddy-biddy".
"Ay, biddy, come with me."
Adjective
- 1 Alternative spelling of bitty (“very small”). US, alt-of, alternative
"“Was it in buckets or them little biddy cans?”"
Proper Noun
- 1 A diminutive of the female given name Bridget.
""Was I absurd?" said Biddy, quietly raising her eyebrows; "I am sorry for that; I didn't mean to be. I only want you to do well, and to be comfortable.""
- 2 A surname of Scottish origin.
Example
"Tom queued behind an old biddy with a full trolley."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "biddy"?
Common synonyms include: chick, abigail, amah, au pair girl, ayah, bag.
How do you use "biddy" in a sentence?
Tom queued behind an old biddy with a full trolley.
How do you pronounce "biddy"?
Pronounced /ˈbɪdi/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Derived from Biddy, diminutive form of Bridget. It became a generic name for an Irish maid (US), and then for an old woman.
Etymology 2
From the phrase "tig biddies", derived from "big tiddies".