nibs

American

[nibz] / nɪbz /

noun

Informal: Often Facetious. hisher nibs, a person in authority, especially one who is demanding and tyrannical.

His nibs wants fresh strawberries in December.

nibs British

/ nɪbz /

noun

slang (functioning as singular) a mock title used of someone in authority

"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 nibs

First recorded in 1815–25; origin uncertain

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:

nibs

Far from luxuriating in a serene and pristine writing environment, Ms. Lewin reveals, Woolf worked amid “old nibs, bits of string, used matches, rusty paper-clips, crumpled envelopes, broken cigarette-holders, etc.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

I fantasized about eating an array of bubble plate-friendly foods: crudités, scoops of vanilla ice cream drizzled in olive oil and elaborate yogurt bowls topped with fancy granola, cut-up fruit and cacao nibs.

From Salon ● May 25, 2025

Jennie’s organic coconut bites with cacao nibs and dark chocolate worked beautifully for post-colonoscopy problems.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 10, 2024

During production, cacao beans are separated into meaty solids, known as nibs, and a fatty portion called cocoa butter.

From National Geographic ● Feb. 12, 2024

I put a pan on the stove and dry toasted the cacao nibs, tingeing the air with the earthy scent I loved.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

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