choosy

American  

[choo-zee] / ˈtʃu zi /

adjective

choosier, choosiest

1. hard to please, particular; fastidious, especially in making a selection.

   She's too choosy about food.

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choosy British  

/ ˈtʃuːzɪ /

adjective

1. informal particular in making a choice; difficult to please

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Other Word Forms

• choosiness noun

Etymology

Origin of choosy

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; choose + -y ¹

Explanation

Someone who's choosy is very particular or picky. If you're choosy about your food, you might refuse to eat at McDonald's no matter how hungry you are. Choosy people often have a reputation for being hard to please — they might take a long time to make a decision, or reject several choices as not being quite right. If you're choosy, you might hold out for the very best of something. An old TV commercial for peanut butter included the line, "Choosy moms choose Jif!" Choosy is an American English word, from choose, from the Old English root ceosan, "choose," and also "accept or approve."

Example Sentences

Tech stocks look interesting—but be choosy about which to buy.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Following a disappointing year for software stocks, investors still have to be choosy when playing the sector, analysts say.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 5, 2026

“There’s so much uncertainty on inflation, on tariffs, but what I would tell you is consumers are being choosy, but they’re choosing E.l.f.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 5, 2025

With dentists in demand, they can be more choosy about where they set up a practice.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2025

If, on the other hand, you're forced to pay, it's wise to lower the bar and not be so choosy.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

• finicky
• selective