What does "boss" mean?
A person who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor.
Boss
/bɒs/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor.
- Grammar: boss is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: chief, director, honcho, knob.
- Useful contrasts: inferior, adjutant, assist.
- Usage evidence: I thought our boss was stubborn as a mule but actually he has his cute side.
How to use "boss"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "boss" 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 "boss" 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 "boss" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "boss" 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 "boss" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, 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 "chief" 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 "boss", 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 person who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor.
"The boss of the company was going to Spain for work."
- 2 A swelling, lump or protuberance in an animal, person or object.; A lump-like mass of rock, especially one projecting through a stratum of different rock.
- 3 A hassock or small seat, especially made from a bundle of straw. obsolete
"All were waiting : uncle Charles, who sat far away in the shadow of the window, Dante and Mr Casey, who sat in the easy chairs at either side of the hearth, Stephen, seated on a chair between them, his feet resting on a toasting boss."
- 4 a circular rounded projection or protuberance wordnet
- 5 A person in charge of a business or company.
"Chat turned to whisper when the boss entered the conference room."
Show 16 more definitions
- 6 A swelling, lump or protuberance in an animal, person or object.; A convex protuberance in hammered work, especially the rounded projection in the centre of a shield.
- 7 a person responsible for hiring workers wordnet
- 8 A leader, the head of an organized group or team.
"They named him boss because he had good leadership skills."
- 9 A swelling, lump or protuberance in an animal, person or object.; A protrusion; frequently a cylinder of material that extends beyond a hole.
"The seargent […] screwing a bipod into the threaded boss on the underside of the barrel would kill these animals […]"
- 10 a person who exercises control and makes decisions wordnet
- 11 The head of a political party in a given region or district.
"He is the Republican boss in Kentucky."
- 12 A swelling, lump or protuberance in an animal, person or object.; A knob or projection, usually at the intersection of ribs in a vault.
- 13 a person who exercises control over workers wordnet
- 14 A term of address to a man, especially a customer, but also sometimes to a friend or acquaintance of equal standing. India, Multicultural-London-English, Philippines, especially, informal
"Good to see you, boss."
- 15 A swelling, lump or protuberance in an animal, person or object.; A roughly cut stone set in place for later carving.
- 16 a leader in a political party who controls votes and dictates appointments wordnet
- 17 An enemy, often at the end of a level, that is particularly challenging and must be beaten in order to progress.
"Cuphead built a reputation for difficulty before release, but its boss battles are mostly about recognizing patterns than getting lucky against unfair bosses. Watching players ace their way through the game’s bosses is a spellbinding reminder that even tough games can be defeated easily with hard work."
- 18 A target block, made of foam but historically made of hay bales, to which a target face is attached.
- 19 One's wife. humorous
"There's no olive oil; will sunflower oil do? — I'll have to run that by the boss."
- 20 A wooden vessel for the mortar used in tiling or masonry, hung by a hook from the laths, or from the rounds of a ladder.
"Boss, a short trough for holding water, when tiling the roof"
- 21 A head or reservoir of water.
Verb
- 1 To exercise authoritative control over; to tell (someone) what to do, often repeatedly. transitive
"By YOU last night’s journey was actually bossed / Without you, I’m certain, we’d all have been lost."
- 2 To decorate with bosses; to emboss. transitive
- 3 raise in a relief wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of excellent quality, first-rate. Canada, US, slang
"That is a boss Zefron poster."
Adjective
- 1 exceptionally good wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
- 2 Initialism of Bond and Option Sales Strategy. US, abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
Example
"I thought our boss was stubborn as a mule but actually he has his cute side."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "boss"?
Common synonyms include: chief, director, honcho, knob, manager, master.
How do you use "boss" in a sentence?
I thought our boss was stubborn as a mule but actually he has his cute side.
How do you pronounce "boss"?
Pronounced /bɒs/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Dutch baas, from Middle Dutch baes (“master of a household, friend”), from Old Dutch *baso (“uncle, kinsman”), from Proto-West Germanic *baswō, from Proto-Germanic *baswô (“uncle”), perhaps from Proto-Germanic *ba-, *bō- (“father, older male relative”), source also of the English terms babe, boy, bub, bully. Cognate with Middle Low German bās (“supervisor, foreman”), Old Frisian bas (“master”), hence Saterland Frisian Boas (“boss”), Old High German basa (“father's sister, cousin”), hence German Base (“aunt, cousin”). Originally a term of respect used to address an older relative. Later, in New Amsterdam, it began to mean a person in charge who is not a master. The video game sense is borrowed from Japanese ボス (bosu), in turn from English boss.
Etymology 2
From Middle English bos, bose, boce, from Old French boce (“lump, bulge, protuberance, knot”), from Frankish *bottja, from Proto-Germanic *bautaną (“to hit, strike, beat”). Doublet of beat; see there for more.
Etymology 3
Apparently a corruption of bass.