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.

“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

We may have been becoming better cyclists, but lordy we were dull.

From The Guardian • Jun. 29, 2012

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

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