bozo
Americannoun
plural
bozos-
a fellow, especially a big, strong, stupid fellow.
-
a rude, obnoxious, or annoying person.
Two or three bozos tried to cut in ahead of the rest of us in the supermarket line.
noun
Etymology
Origin of bozo
An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; of uncertain origin
Explanation
A bozo is a goofy, ridiculous person. A frustrated preschool teacher might beg her students to sit down and stop acting like bozos. You can use the informal term bozo to describe someone who's harmlessly goofy, or alternately, someone who is annoyingly rude. If your candidate for President loses, you might say: "How could all those bozos vote for that guy?" While the exact origin of bozo is unknown, the word became strongly associated with foolishness thanks to the popular TV clown named Bozo who entertained American children from about 1950 until 2001.
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.
Most's leader, Bozo Petrov, did not mince his words when asked about the possibility of joining an HDZ-led government.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2024
A fig vine grows around a side entrance to Bozo Mag.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 29, 2024
A popular television program featuring Bozo the Clown ran for 40 years, from 1960 to 2001.
From Salon • Nov. 12, 2022
Every time I click a link, I have to ask myself if it’s going to be Bozo the clown or something delightful and captivating that I will be happy to have encountered.
From The Verge • Jul. 13, 2022
"Red isn't your color, Bozo," Tina had said the first time Eleanor suited up.
From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell
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.
