bossy

¹ American  

[baw-see, bos-ee] / ˈbɔ si, ˈbɒs i /

adjective

bossier, bossiest

1. given to ordering people about; overly authoritative; domineering.

   Synonyms:

   abrasive, overbearing, dictatorial, officious, high-handed

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bossy ² American  

[baw-see, bos-ee] / ˈbɔ si, ˈbɒs i /

adjective

bossier, bossiest

1. studded with knoblike or projecting parts.

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bossy ³ American  

[bos-ee, baw-see] / ˈbɒs i, ˈbɔ si /

noun

plural

bossies

1. a familiar name for a cow or calf.

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bossy ¹ British  

/ ˈbɒsɪ /

adjective

1. informal domineering, overbearing, or authoritarian

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bossy ² British  

/ ˈbɒsɪ /

adjective

1. (of furniture) ornamented with bosses

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Other Word Forms

• bossily adverb
• bossiness noun

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

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; boss ³ + -y ²

Example Sentences

One small, slightly bossy note: leaf shape matters.

From Salon

My daughter added her laugh-out-loud imitations of me being overly bossy or short-tempered, and her grandma’s habit of asking whether we were on the right train and sitting in the right seats.

From Los Angeles Times

What they have in common is markets that have walloped their bossy giant neighbor’s.

From Barron's

It seems like that that kind of like the role of being a little bossy and advocating for her sisters and making sure everything’s moving properly.

From Salon

The Mexican leader lashed out at his Austrian counterpart as being “arrogant” and “bossy.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• imperious
• overbearing
• pushy