What does "nosy" mean?
A look at something to satisfy one's curiosity.
Nosy
/ˈnoʊzi/ adj, noun, verb, slang
adj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A look at something to satisfy one's curiosity.
- Grammar: nosy is listed as adj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: prying, busy, busybodied, busybody.
- Useful contrasts: discreet, formal diction, formal term.
- Usage evidence: My neighbor is what we call a nosy person.
How to use "nosy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "nosy" 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 "nosy" 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 "nosy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "nosy" 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 "nosy" is acting as adj, 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 "prying" 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 "nosy", 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 look at something to satisfy one's curiosity. UK, slang
"I might wander down to the construction site for a nosy at what they're building."
- 2 A nose. childish, rare
"There was a little Rosy, / And she had a little nosy; / And she made a little posy, / All pink and white and green. / And she said, “Little nosy, / Will you smell my little posy? / For of all the flowers that growsy, / Such sweet ones ne’er were seen.” / So she took the little posy, / And she put it to her nosy, / On her little face so rosy, / The flowers for to smell; […]"
Verb
- 1 To pry into something. informal
"My brother always nosies into my diary."
Adjective
- 1 Prying, inquisitive or curious in other’s affairs; tending to snoop or meddle.
"They built tall fences, yet the nosy neighbors always seemed to know everything about them."
- 2 Having a large or elongated nose.
""Look at you, a handsome man of thirty, with thick brown hair and a nosy nose and enormous feet and hands that can drive a team of horses or a yoke of oxen or," she hesitated in a brief shyness, and then went on, "a loving wife.""
Adjective
- 1 offensively curious or inquisitive wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"My neighbor is what we call a nosy person."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "nosy"?
Common synonyms include: prying, busy, busybodied, busybody, colloquial term, curious.
How do you use "nosy" in a sentence?
My neighbor is what we call a nosy person.
How do you pronounce "nosy"?
Pronounced /ˈnoʊzi/.
Etymology
From nose + -y.