Nellie
Americannoun
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a female given name, form of Helen.
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(often lowercase)
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Offensive. a fussily effeminate male.
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Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay man.
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Etymology
Origin of Nellie
First recorded in 1930–35 Nellie for def. 2
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.
Nellie Kottler, from the estate, said the team had been "utterly staggered" by the discovery.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
Her agent added: "Elizabeth enjoyed an illustrious career spanning many decades but is probably best known as Auntie Nellie in EastEnders."
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026
In 2024, she was awarded the prestigious Nellie Bly Award for her reporting on the intersection of gambling and investing.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
Viktor and Nellie Anisovets bought a newly built home in Sacramento, Calif., in September.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025
He took Edward off his shoulder and stood him up on the floor and held on to his hands and made him take a deep bow in the direction of Nellie.
From "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
