golly
Americaninterjection
verb
noun
interjection
noun
Etymology
Origin of golly
First recorded in 1840–50; euphemistic alteration of God
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s an argument that Superman’s golly gee spirit is his greatest asset, no subversion necessary.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026
“It points to various purported sources of uncertainty and says, ‘Gosh, golly, analysis is impossible!’ ” said Siegel.
From Slate ● Mar. 24, 2023
“If you could see the pile of rubble, by golly, what a job that’s going to be.”
From Washington Post ● Mar. 17, 2023
But, by golly, she has still been clocking in at the Garberville Pharmacy in neighboring Humboldt County.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 9, 2023
“By golly, they are; and so are potatoes, sort of. Fish?” pondered Matt, “I suppose there are lots of fish around here.”
From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
