busybody

American  

[biz-ee-bod-ee] / ˈbɪz iˌbɒd i /

noun

plural

busybodies

1. a person who pries into or meddles in the affairs of others.

   Synonyms:

   blabbermouth, gossip, Nosy Parker, meddler, pry, snoop

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busybody British  

/ ˈbɪzɪˌbɒdɪ /

noun

1. a meddlesome, prying, or officious person

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Other Word Forms

• busybodying noun

Etymology

Origin of busybody

First recorded in 1520–30; busy + body

Example Sentences

The movie doesn’t quite know how to handle Mabel: She’s meant to be charmingly determined but comes across as more of a scold and a busybody.

From The Wall Street Journal

The third choice is to stay in contact — with or without repaying the $1,000 — and manage him as you would a busybody neighbor or annoying acquaintance who wants to be closer than you are.

From MarketWatch

Your siblings and any other busybody family members would have no say.

From MarketWatch

A bunch of dead busybodies who knew nothing about him and what he could handle, what he handled every day without complaint.

From Literature

After class I played with President Davis’s daughters, nicknamed Dit, Dot, and Dash—the same as the Morse code signals the military used to communicate— because they were such busybodies.

From Literature