fogey

[foh-gee]

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noun, plural fo·geys.

fogy

or fo·gey

[foh-gee]

noun, plural fo·gies.

an excessively conservative or old-fashioned person, especially one who is intellectually dull (usually preceded by old): The board of directors were old fogies still living in the 19th century.

Origin of fogy

First recorded in 1770–80; origin uncertain

Related formsfo·gy·ish, adjectivefo·gy·ism, noun

Can be confusedfoggy fogy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for fogey

fuddy-duddy, fossil, stick-in-the-mud, dodo

Examples from the Web for fogey

Historical Examples of fogey

It is at best the act of a fogey and always an easy thing to do, as there are so few people who can contradict one.
The Story of My Life
Ellen Terry
But when my slightly contemptuous companion spoke I had no answer, felt out of date and dull, a fogey and an idle man.
Old Junk
H. M. Tomlinson
One old German fogey wanted to have all the letters on the German typewriters changed to German script.
Germany in War Time
Mary Ethel McAuley
Her people are hastening to bring from hidden coves things once discarded as fogey.
Blue Ridge Country
Jean Thomas
She said to herself that she was rapidly developing into a fogey, and must rigorously combat the grievous tendency.
A Spirit in Prison
Robert Hichens

British Dictionary definitions for fogey

fogey

fogy

noun plural -geys or -gies

an extremely fussy, old-fashioned, or conservative person (esp in the phrase old fogey)

Derived Formsfogeyish or fogyish, adjectivefogeyism or fogyism, noun

Word Origin for fogey

C18: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for fogey

also fogy, "an old, dull fellow," 1780, Scottish foggie, originally "army pensioner or veteran," perhaps connected to fogram (1775) "old-fashioned person;" or from fog in obsolete senses of "moss" or "bloated fat" (1580s).