lordy

American

[lawr-dee] / ˈlɔr di /

interjection

Informal: Older Use.

(often initial capital letter) (used in exclamatory phrases to express surprise, elation, etc.).

Oh lordy, what a mess!

lordy British

/ ˈlɔːdɪ /

interjection

an exclamation of surprise or dismay

"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 lordy

First recorded in 1820–25; lord ( def. ) (the interjection) + -y ² ( def. )

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:

lordy

“This time, lordy, I even got invited to have tea with Kate,” Parton said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2023

While the percentage of Americans who express faith in the God of Abraham or in any mainstream religion is at an all-time low, lordy day do we have beliefs.

From Fox News ● Jul. 20, 2020

Oh my lordy, you could cut the tension with a knife.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 8, 2010

You have to assume the referee did not want to send another player off but lordy, what was Algeria's Faouzi Chaouchi playing at?

From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2010

"Some lordy lord's little squire boy, that's it."

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023