bossy
1 Americanadjective
-
bossier,
comparative
-
bossiest
superlative
adjective
-
bossier,
comparative
-
bossiest
superlative
noun
-
bossies
plural
adjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of bossy1
An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; boss 1 + -y 1
Origin of bossy2
First recorded in 1535–45; boss 2 + -y 1
Origin of bossy3
Explanation
Someone who's bossy has a tendency to order other people around. Your bossy friend might tell you what clothes you should wear on your date as well as which restaurant you ought to eat at. Bossy people enjoy telling you what to do. Your bossy roommate might instruct you to clean the kitchen immediately, and a bossy kid could happily spend an afternoon ordering his babysitter to push him on a swing. While the 16th century meaning was "swelling and rounded, decorated with buttons," by the late 1800s bossy meant "domineering," from the Dutch baas, or "master." It's also a popular name for a cow, from the Latin bos, "cow."
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.
See Examples For:
She said that as the "bossy" older sister, she told him that morning that he needed to prepare, adding: "If you win, you cannot wing it."
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
And even the people who love me can get aggravated by all the ways I’m impulsive, bossy, overwhelming and judgmental.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
Woody can be bossy and controlling, jealous and vain.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
This may sound bossy, but in the absence of clear communication, we tend to overanalyze, says Sara Jane Ho, an etiquette expert and host of the Netflix show “Mind Your Manners.”
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 29, 2026
She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth.
From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling
She went with him out to the barn, and she cried over the bossies and the horses, and said good-by to them under her breath, so that her father might not hear.
From Rose of Dutcher's Coolly by Hamlin Garland
That’s why I’m not at some round-up; all my bossies right at home.
From Stepsons of Light by Eugene Manlove Rhodes
"No; I don't see many little girls," said I, with a dismal sigh; "they don't have anything here but bossies and horses."
From Aunt Madge's Story by Sophie May
Therefore, my baasjes, Outa cooks bossies from the veld to rub on—buchu and kookamakranka and karroo bossies.
From Outa Karel's Stories South African Folk-Lore Tales by Sanni Metelerkamp
If it does," called Weary, who was branding—with a stamp—not far away, "if it does, Happy, we'll pack the bossies into the cook-tent and make Patsy heat the irons in the stove.
From The Lonesome Trail and Other Stories by B. M. Bower
There was a bigger, brasher, bossier personality waiting in the wings, and his restrained act was an acknowledgement of the new political pecking order.
From US News ● May 20, 2016
If Wilbur, the older, bossier and more rigorous brother, ever had an impassioned relationship with any human being who was not a blood relative or fellow aviation enthusiast, this isn’t the book to exhume it.
From New York Times ● May 3, 2015
The only trouble with costume time is that Abuela can get even bossier than usual.
From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina
Without adult supervision, playtime can quickly become a “Lord of the Flies”-like situation, with the strongest and bossiest child leading the pack.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 3, 2021
She’s seven pounds and the bossiest one I’ve ever had.
From New York Times ● Oct. 20, 2017
In this way, Geeta had carved out a role for herself as the bossiest woman in the village.
From New York Times ● Jan. 30, 2016
Cole Hooker smiled while recalling Cole as “always the best and bossiest big sister.”
From Washington Times ● Jan. 12, 2016
A not-dumb question popped into the boy’s head: Are you competing for bossiest person of the year?
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
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