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Showing results for golly. Search instead for golpy.
Synonyms

golly

American  
[gol-ee] / ˈgɒl i /

interjection

Informal.
  1. (used as a mild exclamation expressing surprise, wonder, puzzlement, pleasure, or the like.)


golly 1 British  
/ ˈɡɒlɪ /

verb

  1. to spit

"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

noun

  1. a gob of spit

"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
golly 2 British  
/ ˈɡɒlɪ /

interjection

  1. an exclamation of mild surprise or wonder

"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

golly 3 British  
/ ˈɡɒlɪ /

noun

  1. informal short for golliwog

"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

Etymology

Origin of golly

First recorded in 1840–50; euphemistic alteration of God


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.

See Examples For:

It’s an argument that Superman’s golly gee spirit is his greatest asset, no subversion necessary.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026

Oh by gosh, by golly, it’s time for this week’s Slate News Quiz.

From Slate ● Dec. 13, 2024

By golly, my blood pressure is already starting to come down.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 28, 2023

“If you could see the pile of rubble, by golly, what a job that’s going to be.”

From Washington Post ● Mar. 17, 2023

But by golly, I had my missing last chapter.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

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